THE  UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

LIBRARY 


THE  WILMER  COLLECTION 

OF  CIVIL  WAR  NOVELS 

PRESENTED  BY 

RICHARD  H.  WILMER,  JR. 


y 


J 


CALMER  COUi:£;iia{i 


J£iLM£B  COLLECIiUCj 


^lillicnii   llalfcrk 


A    TALE    OF    THE 


Dark  Days  of  IvExNTUCky 


IN    THE    YEAR    1861. 


BY     MARTHA     RE  MICK, 

AUTHOR  OF  "AGNES  STANHOPE." 


'There's  a  divinity  that  shapes  our  ends, 
Rough-hew  them  how  we  will." 


BOSTON: 
A.  WILLIAMS  &  CO.,  100  WASHINGTON  STREET. 

18G5. 


Entered,  according:  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1865,  by 

MARTHA  REMICK. 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  District  of 

Massachusetts. 


lyxKS  A>'D  NiLES. 
Stertotgpcrs    anti     ^rintrrs, 

37    CORSHILL. 


INTRODUCTION 


The  following  pages  record  the  history  of  a  Ken- 
tucky family  —  not  very  unlike  in  its  experiences  to 
those  of  a  thousand  others  —  through  the  first  year 
of  the  war  just  ended,  and  in  the  few  months  which 
preceded  its  breaking  out.  Care  has  been  taken  to 
render  the  narrative  as  veritable  as  circumstances 
would  permit,  and  to  lean  as  little  from  the  far 
New  England  stand-point  as  early  prejudices  would 
allow.  Slowly  before  us  the  terrible  drama  opened. 
God  sealed  our  eyes  in  the  beginning,  because  of  our 
participation  in  the  state  of  things  which  warmed 
it  to  life  ;  but  the  dullest  heart  must  acknowledge 
at  last  that,  though  his  vengeance  sleep  for  a  hun- 
dred years,  his  ear  is  never  closed  to  the  cry  of 
redress  for  wrong.  His  hour  has  come.  From  him 
are  the   issues  closing  before  us  to  the    happy    end. 


535758 


CONTENTS. 


Chapter 
I. 

The  Letter,      . 

Page 
.       9 

II. 

The  Journey,   . 

.     17 

III. 

The  Kentuckian  Family, 

.     24 

IV. 

The  Reception, 

.    32 

V. 

First  Impressions,     . 

.    39 

VI. 

Aunt  Phillis'  Sickness,  . 

.    46 

VII. 

The  Mortgage, 

.     55 

VIII. 

Jim's  Flight,    . 

.     61 

IX. 

Return  of  the  Fugitive, 

.    70 

X. 

Sale  of  Susan's  Husband, 

.    77 

XI. 

Augusta's  Return,   . 

.    85 

XII. 

Augusta  and  Mr.  Stuart, 

.    92 

XIII. 

The  Dream, 

.  100 

XIV. 

Sale  of  Part  of  the  Slaves,  . 

.  109 

XV. 

Susan's  Flight, 

.  118 

XVI. 

The  Fruitless  Search, 

.  128 

XVII. 

The  Holidays, 

.  136 

XVIII. 

Christmas-Day, 

.  146 

XIX. 

The  Interview  in  the  Library 

,       .  156 

XX. 

James's  Departure,  . 

.  166 

XXI. 

Departure  of  Guests, 

.  173 

XXII. 

The  Political  Horizon  thicke> 

iing,    181 

XXIII. 

Millicent's  Lonely  Walk, 

.  191 

VI 


CONTENTS. 


XXIV. 

The  Conflagration, 

.  202 

XXV. 

TuE  Friendly  Warning,  . 

.  212 

XXVI. 

Mr.  Leepons  Railway  Ride,    . 

2*^2 

XXVll. 

The  Homeless  Family, 

.  230 

XXVllT. 

The  Fright,      .... 

.  238 

XXIX. 

DlSAl'l'OlNTMENT, 

.  248 

XXX. 

The  Alarm  in  the  IIousedold, 

.  258 

XXXI. 

The  Attack,      .... 

.  2(38 

XXX 11. 

The  Morning  Scene, 

.  27G 

XXXIII. 

The  Village  Doctor, 

.  285 

XXXIV. 

Millicent's  Discovery,     . 

.  2U2 

XXXV. 

A  Stolen  Visit, 

.  301 

XXXVI. 

Jim, 

.  311 

XXXVli. 

Jim  and  Rose,  .... 

.  322 

XXXVIII. 

The  Alarm,       .... 

.  330 

XXX IX. 

The  Horrors  of  Civil  "War,    . 

.  338 

XL. 

The  Night  Drive,    . 

.  348 

xu. 

The  Battle  of  Belmont, 

.  354 

XLII. 

Retrospection, 

.  302 

XLIIl. 

The  Estranged  Lovers,    . 

.  SOU 

XLIV. 

An  Unexpected  Meeting, 

.  375 

XLV. 

^Ieeting  between  Mother  and  Son 

,    3S3 

XLVl. 

Major  Leeson's  Departure,      . 

.  391 

XLVII. 

The  Battle  of  Mill  Springs,  . 

.  3'J7 

XLVIII. 

Mystery  of  Susan's  Flight-  solved 

,    405 

XLIX. 

Parting  Words, 

.  410 

L. 

Conclusion,       .... 

.  418 

MiLLICEWT    IIaLFORD. 


CHAPTER   I  . 

THE   LETTER. 


IN  the  autumn  of  1860,  a  young  girl, 
Millicent  Halforcl,  left  her  New  England 
home,  located  in  a  quiet  village  town  of 
Massachusetts,  to  become  an  inmate  of  her 
aunt's  family  in  Kentucky.  The  circum- 
stances of  this  adoption  on  the  one  side 
were  unusually  sorrowful.  By  the  death  of 
her  father,  the  3^oung  gi-rl  had  found  herself 
bereft  of  her  nearest  friend  and  only  pro- 
tector. Her  step-mother,  a  widow  at  the 
period  of  her  marriage,  with  a  large  family 
of  children,  and  scanty  means,  was  not  likely 
to  take  much  interest  in  her  prospects. 

9 


10  MILLICEXT    riALFORD. 

"I  don't  kuow  what  you  will  set  al>out, 
Mill}',"  said  bustling,  energetic  Mrs.  Ilal- 
ford,  when  the  first  days  of  mourning  had 
worn  away,  and  the  family  l)egan  to  turn 
their  attention  to  the  future.  "  You  might 
have  learned  a  dressmaker's  trade,  as  I  sug- 
gested last  spring,  if  your  father  hadn't 
been  so  proud.  What's  the  use  of  bringing 
a  child  up  in  idleness,  I'd  like  to  know?  or 
what  good  is  all  the  schooling  you've  had 
at  the  Academy  going  to  do  you?" 

"  I  might  teach,"  said  MilUcent,  forcing 
down  a  sigh,  suggested  perhaps  b}'  a  glimpse 
of  the  pale,  sickly  face  and  slender  figure 
which  confronted  her  opposite  in  the  mir- 
ror, or  by  the  cold,  unsympathizing  tones 
of  her  step-mother.  "  You  know  that  was 
father's  thought." 

*'  And  where  are  you  to  get  a  school, 
Milly?" 

''  I  don't  know,  ma'am,  I'm  sure." 
'    "  I    don't    know,    either,"    said    Mrs.    Hal- 
ford,   shortly.     "  If  your  father  had  listened 
to  me,  he  would  have  given  you  a  trade." 


THE   LETTER.  11 

*'I  have  not  got  an  answer  to  my  letter 
to  Aunt  Leeson,"  observed  Millicent,  hes- 
itatingly. "  Perhaps  she  will  suggest  some- 
thing; she  can  guess  how  we  are  circum- 
stanced. I  dare  say  she  could  get  me  a 
place  to  teach.  If  I  were  only  competent,  I 
might  be  a  governess." 

"  She  wont  help  you  much,"  said  Mrs. 
Halford,  dryly.  ''  I  doubt  if  she  answers 
your  letter  at  all." 

Millicent's  eyes  filled  with  tears.  The 
same  doubt  had  arisen  in  her  mind  only  the 
past  night,  when,  for  the  third  time,  she  had 
turned  away  disappointed  from  the  steps 
of  the  village  post-office.  Her  aunt  had 
never  liked  her  (Millicent's)  mother's  mar- 
riage with  simple  Farmer  Halford,  and  a 
broken  and  irregular  correspondence  was  all 
the  intimacy  which  had  been  kept  up  be- 
tween them  after  that  event  to  the  date  of 
the  younger  sister's  death.  Then  Mrs.  Lee- 
son's  letters  had  entirely  ceased,  and  no 
communication  had  taken  place  between  the 
families    until    MilHcent's    letter,   which    her 


12  MILLICEKT   HALFORD. 

father  had,  as  his  last  parting  words,  when 
she  knelt  by  his  dying-bed,  desired  her  to 
write.  No  doubt,  poor  man !  he  had  a  dis- 
tinct idea  of  the  lonely  and  rugged  life  to 
which  ho  was  leaving  her. 

"A  letter  to-night,  Milly ! "  said  James,  tho 
eldest  boy,  a  fine  lad  of  fifteen,  coming  in 
from  the  driving  rain-storm  which  was 
splashing  great  drops  outside  the  window, 
and  swelling  the  already  swollen  gutters  in 
the    road. 

■Milly  took  it   eagerly,  her  cheeks  flushing 
with  a  fever   of  surprise   and   pleasure. 

^^  It's  from  Aunt  Leeson,"  she  said,  look- 
ing at  the  postmark,  and  proceeding  to  tear 
it  open. 

"Well,  what  does  she  say?"  asked  Mrs. 
Halford,  after  what  seemed  to  her  a  length- 
ened delay  on  the  part  of  her  step-daughter. 

"  She  invites  me  to  come  to  live  with  her, 
and  says  she  shall  be  glad  of  my  services 
to   teach  her  little   girl." 

Mrs.  Halford  looked  relieved ;  she  was 
glad  to  get  her  step-daughter  off  her  hands. 


THE    LETTER.  13 

"  It's  a  good  offer/'  she  said,  "  and  there 
is  no  reason  why  you  should  not  accept  it.*' 

Certainly  there  was  not.  Mrs.  Halford 
mo'ved  away  to  the  oven  to  tend  the  cakes 
which  were  doing  to  a  fine  brown  in  its 
depths,  and  Millicent  began  to  lay  the  coarse 
but  snowy  cloth  on  the  round  table  for  tea. 
Presently  she  stole  up-stairs  to  her  little 
chamber,  and  dropping  into  her  low  chair 
by  the  window,  pored  again  by  the  dim  twi- 
light over  the  few  lines  in  her  aunt's  let- 
ter. They  were  coldly  traced, —  not  a  word 
of  that  sympathy  for  which  her  heart  went 
out  in  passionate  yearning  in  her  late  be- 
reavement. Mrs.  Leeson  wrote  in  the  ster- 
eotyped tones  of  duty,  and  plainly  thought 
that  she  was  accomplishing  some  great  char- 
ity in  offering  a  home,  however  burdened 
with  conditions,  to  her  orphan  niece. 

"I  wonder  if  she  will  like  me,"  thought 
Milly,  gazing,  in  a  mirror  of  memory,  at 
her  pale,  plain  face  and  shy,  retiring  ways. 
"I'm  afraid  she  wont.  Now  if  it  had  been 
Fanny  —  " 


1-i  MILTLCENT   IIALFORD. 

Fanny  was  her  step-raother's  daughter,  a 
rosy-cheeked,  merry  girl  of  just  lier  own 
years,  —  fresh  seventeen, — but  as  unlike  her 
in  all  outward   appearance  as  could  well    be. 

"  Milly  1 "  said  a  voice  at  the  foot  of  the 
staircase. 

The  girl  started  up  at  her  mother's  voice, 
and  ran  down.  The  biscuits  were  smoking 
upon  the  table,  and  Mrs.  Ilalford  was  in 
the  act  of  pouring  out  the  tea.  Milly  took 
her  place  next  to  James.  A  new  sui^ject 
was  coming  up  in  her  thoughts.  What 
would  her  aunt  say  to  her  wardrobe  ?  It 
was  slender  and  of  modest  materials.  She 
had  an  idea  that  her  aunt  would  desire  her 
to    make    a  better   appearance. 

"  When  do  you  set  out,  Milly  ? "  asked 
her  step-mother  at  the  close  of  the  meal. 
"  I  suppose  Mrs.  Leeson  is  to  send  on  for 
you.  You  never  could  find  the  way  there 
by   yourself;    it's   hundreds    of  miles." 

"  She  said  her  eldest  son,  ma'am,  was  in 
New   York,   and   I    could   meet   him   there.'' 

''  But  how  are  you  to  get  to  Xew  York, 


THE   LETTER. 


15 


I'd  like  to  know  ?  You  never  have  set  your 
foot  beyond  Boston  yet,  and  your  father 
wouldn't  have   trusted    you    to    go   alone." 

"No  doubt  we  can  think  of  a  way/'  said 
Milly,  quietly.  "There  is  Mr.  Garden,  who 
will  be  going  on,  or  sending  some  one,  for 
goods;  he  would  take  charge  of  me,  per- 
haps." 

"Most  likely  he's  gone  before  this;  it's 
the  middle   of  September  now." 

"Perhaps  not,  ma'am.  I'll  write  him  a 
note   to-night,   anyhow." 

"When  is  your  cousin  to  be  there?" 
"He  is  in  New  York  now.  Aunt  Leeson 
says,  and  will  remain  there  until  I  join  him." 
Little  more  was  said.  Millicent  washed 
up  the  supper  things,  and  retired  to  her 
chamber,  this  time  with  a  lamp,  to  write 
her  note.  She  had  no  very  bright  antici- 
pations of  the  future  as  she  folded  it  up 
and  sat  in  a  little  fit  of  musing,  while  the 
rain  sobbed  drearily  outside  the  window, 
and  pattered  heavily  upon  the  roof  over- 
head.     She   was   about    to    quit    her    home, 


16  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

the  only  liome  she  had  ever  known,  in  all 
probability  never  to  return  to  it.  True,  she 
had  experienced  little  of  affection  or  S3nn- 
path}^  in  it  in  these  later  years;  but  each 
low,  dark  room  held  its  pictures  of  days 
that  were  gone.  Even  the  old  gnarled  ap- 
ple-trees outside,  the  clump  of  lilacs,  and 
the  little  garden  whicli  every  June  had 
seen  flushed  with  pinks  and  sweet-williams 
were  ^  dear.  The  future  looked  very  sad 
to  the  young  girl,  vista  after  vista  opening 
out  into  the  distance  as  she  sent  her 
thoughts  into  the  years.  What  did  it  hold 
for  her?  Why  was  she  about  to  be  trans- 
planted into  new  scenes  so  far  from  this 
dear  spot? 

She  heard  Fanny's  cheerful  voice  in  the- 
entry  ;  slie  was  in  the  act  of  ascending  the 
staircase,  and  her  mother's  answering  tones 
rose  behind  her.  Milly  hurried  to  put  out 
her  light,  and  crept  into  bed.  In  that  fru- 
gal household,  it  would  have  been  judged 
a  grave  impropriety  to  meditate  by  lamp- 
light. Her  step-mother  had  supposed  her  in 
bed  an  hour  before. 


CHAPTER    II. 

THE    JOURNEY. 

MILLICENT'S  note  met  a  favorable  an- 
swer. Mr.  Garden  had  been  detained 
by  illness  in  bis  family  from  setting  out  on 
bis  visit  to  New  York  at  the  usual  date, 
and  cheerfully  promised  the  protection  of 
bis  escort  to  the  young  lady.  She  had  lit- 
tle time  for  preparation,  as  he  was  to  start 
on  the  day  but  one  following.  Her  trunk 
was  hastily  packed.  There  was  no  time, 
bad  the  means  been  in  her  possession,  for 
attempting  an  improvement  in  her  ward- 
robe ;  and,  with  an  exchange  of  trembling 
good-bys,  she  took  her  seat  in  the  stage 
which  was  to  carry  her  on  the  first  few 
miles  of  her  journey.  She  had  taken  her 
leave  of  her  step-mother  in  the  house ;  her 
2  17 


18  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

brothers  and  sister  were  grouped  on  the 
steps   to    see  her    off. 

''  I  wish  I  were  going  too,  Milly/'  said 
Fanny,  in  an  undertone,  thinking  more  of 
the  excitements  and  novelties  of  the  journey 
than  the  strange  faces  that  waited  at  the 
end.  ''You'll  be  sure  to  write  to  us, — 
wont  you?  —  and  tell  us  all  about  the  place 
when  you   get  there  ?  " 

''  I  shall  miss  you  about  my  arithmetic, 
Milly,"  said  James,  a  suspicious  moisture 
shining  up  in  his  honest  brown  eyes.  ''I 
sha'n't  have  anybody  to  show  me  about  my 
sums    the   long   fall   evenings." 

"  Good-b}^"  said  Milly  again,  sinking  back 
into  her  corner  of  the  stage.  The  driver 
pulled  up  his  reins,  and  the  horses  started 
on  at  a  jogging  pace.  Soon  they  were 
past  the  pear-tree  which  flung  its  long  arms 
over  the  bend  of  the  road,  had  crossed  the 
bridge  lined  with  willows,  passed  the  red 
schoolhouse,  tlie  meeting-house,  with  its  tall 
spire,  a  long  row  of  scattering  farmhouses, 
and  Millicent  drew  her  head  in  wearily  from 


TFIE  JOURNEY.  19 

the  contemplation  of  new  sights  and  unfa- 
miliar spots.  The  green  fields  were  yet 
sprinkled  with  the  white  frost  of  the  past 
night,  which  had  crisped  the  edges  of  many 
a  long  row  of  bean-vines,  and  withered 
whole    gardens   of  blossoms. 

The  ride  began  to  grow  long  to  Millicent 
before  the  railway  station  was  reached, 
where  the  stage-driver  kindly  helped  her 
on  board  the  cars,  which  had  drawn  up 
almost  at  the  same  moment  with  the  ap- 
pearance of  the  stage.  Soon  the  train 
started  off  with  voluminous  floods  of  smoke, 
keeping  its  wa}^   through  the  open   country. 

It  was  quite  dusk  in  the  short  autumn 
day  when  the  puffing  engine  slackened  its 
speed  within  sight  of  a  row  of  red  brick 
walls  rising  over  the  outskirts  of  a  wide 
marsh,  and  Millicent  knew  that  the  train 
was  approaching  the  end  of  its  journey. 
Presently  it  glided  into  a  long,  dark  build- 
ing, passing  the  windows,  framed  with  the 
faces  of  passengers,  of  a  waiting  train,  and 
came   to   a   halt 


20  MILLICEXT    IIALFORD. 

Meliccnt,  fullowiug  the  general  movement, 
found  herself  outside  in  the  din  and  confu- 
sion of  a  crowd  of  vociferous  hack-drivers. 
Searching  in  her  port-monnaie  for  Mr.  Car- 
den's  card,  she  was  soon  in  a  carriage,  and 
in  a  few  moments  alighted  at  the  end  of 
a  substantial  brick  block,  in  a  quiet  street 
near  tlie  depot.  She  had  been  here  once 
before  with  her  father,  on  the  occasion  of 
one  of  his  short  visits  to  town,  and  a  very 
kind  welcome  met  her  from  the  pleasant, 
motherly-looking  woman  whom  the  abrupt 
pull  at  the  bell  brought  to  the  door  to  re- 
ceive  her. 

''  You  look  tired,  my  dear,"  said  ]Mrs. 
Garden,  showing  her  guest  into  her  parlor, 
and  assisting  her  to  remove  her  bor.net 
and  shawl.  "  How  early  did  you  leave 
home  ?  " 

"  The   stage   started   at   eight,   ma'am." 
''  You   must   be   hungry  as  well   as   tired. 
Did   you    get   a   luncheon   on   the  way?" 
"  Xo,   ma'am.     I    had   no   appetite." 
"  Well,  tea  will  be  ready  soon ;    Mr.    Car- 


91 

THE  JOUENEY.  ■"■ 

den  comes  in  at  six.  I  have  jn^t  told 
Jane  to  make  up  the  fire.  My  husband 
tells   me   you   are    going   a  long  journey.' 

"Yes,  ma'am." 

"  Going  to  be  a  governess,  I  believe  Mr. 

Garden   said?" 

"No    ma'am," -MiUicent  colored  slightly. 
Was  it  a  false  feeling?-" I'm  going  to  live 

•with  my   aunt." 

Why  did  Mrs.  Garden's  eyes  rest  upon 
the  homely  but  serviceable  shawl  which  she 
was  folding  upon  her  arm,  in  the  act  of 
taking  it  up-stairs,  and  the  plain  silk  bon- 
net, which  should  have  been  crape?  or  did 
Millicent   only  imagine  this?  ^^ 

"I   suppose   your   aunt   is  very  wealthy, 
she    said,    hesitating;    "has    lots    of    slaves. 
-    People   do   mostly,  I've   been   told,   in   Ken- 

tucky  " 

"I   don't  know,"  said  Millicent.     "Father 

^sed  to  say  Aunt  Leeson  was  rich;  but 
I  have  never  seen  her,  and  we  had  no 
letters  from  her  after  mother  died  until  this 
one   came." 


22  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

*' How  long  has  your  mother  been  dead?" 

"Eight  years."  Millicent's  voice  dropped 
to   a    subdued   tone. 

"  A  long  time."  Mrs.  Garden  finished 
folding  the  shawl  over  her  arm,  and  tak- 
ing the  bonnet  in  her  hand,  went  up  the 
staircase. 

"  How  I  wish  I  could  have  some  nicer 
clothes  I "  thought  MilHcent,  taking  a  chair 
by  the  window.  "  I'm  afraid  Aunt  Leeson 
wont  be  pleased  with  me.  But  how  could 
I  help  it?  Where  was  the  money  to  come 
from?" 

Her  father  had  left  very  little  except 
the  small  farm,  which  he  had  conveyed  to 
her  step-mother  by  his  will  for  the  support 
of  his  two  youngest  children.  She  had  had 
her  plain  suit  of  mourning  with  Fanny. 
What   had    she    to    complain    of? 

There  -was  very  little  to  see  on  the 
street  outside;  the  red  brick  walls  shut 
out  the  sky,  and  besides,  the  twilight  was 
beginning    to    fall. 

Presently    a    key    grated    in    the    street 


THE   JOURNEY.  23 

door.     Mr.    Garden   had    let   himself  in,   and 
his    steps     died    away    down    to    the   lower 
regions,  in  which  a  bell   presently  sounded, 
and   Mrs.    Garden   made    her   appearance    to 
show  her  guest  down  to  the  basement   din- 
ing-room, where  the   tea-table  was   spread.   ' 
"  We  must  be  ready  betimes  in  the  morn- 
ing.  Miss  Halford,''  said  Mr.  Garden,  as  Mil- 
licent,  confessing  to  fatigue,  quitted  the  fam- 
ily group  at  an   early  hour   after  tea;    "the 
express   train   goes   out  at   nine." 


CHAPTER    III. 

THE   KENTUCKIAN   FAMILY. 

TTTE  will  precede  Millicent  to  the  little 
T  f  Kentuckian  household  of"  which  she  is 
about  to  become  a  member.  It  consists  of 
Mrs.  Leeson,  the  mistress ;  her  two  sons, 
the  elder  of  whom  is  now  absent  on  a 
visit  to  New  York  (Millicent's  escort),  the 
younger  at  present  at  home  on  a  stay  of 
a  few  days  snatched  from  the  close  study 
of  his  profession  in  the  office  of  an  emi- 
nent lawyer  at  Bowling  Green ;  her  little 
daughter  of  twelve ;  her  husband's  orphan 
niece.  Miss  Augusta  Leeson,  and  some 
twelve  or  thirteen  servants,  the  latter  vary- 
ing in  complexion  from  the  deepest  tint 
of  ebony  to  a  rich  quadroon.  Miss  Au- 
gusta Leeson    is    not,  however,  a  permanent 

24 


THE  KENTUCKIAN  FAMILY.  25 

inmate  of  this  home;  she  has  arrived  here 
quite  suddenly  on  a  visit,  and  inoppor- 
tunely in  the  absence  of  her  fiance^  Mr. 
Frederick   Leeson. 

It  may  as  well  be  confessed  in  the  com- 
mencement that  this  match  has  been  hardly 
of  the  young  couple's  framing.  Interested 
friends,  the  mother,  and  the  young  lady's 
guardian  have  used  their  interest  to  bring 
about  the  engagement,  and  though  the  af- 
fair promises  well  on  the  surface,  and  the 
marriage  is  settled  to  come  oiF  in  the 
spring,  on  the  lady's  side,  at  least,  it  has 
very   little   of  the  coloring  of  affection. 

''  I  must  tell  Jim  to  drive  over  to  the 
depot  for  Frederick,"  observed  Mrs.  Leeson 
on  the  afternoon  of  her  son's  expected  ar- 
rival, as  she  sauntered  out  on  the  lawn 
with  her  niece.  "  Adele  has  gone  up  to 
her  chamber  with  a  headache.  Poor  child ! 
I  wonder  how  she  will  like  her  new  teach- 
er. She  is  so  hard  upon  governesses.  I 
don't  suppose  the  girl  will  have  much  ap- 
pearance, brought  up  as  she  has.  been  in 
an   out-of-the-way   Yankee   town." 


26  MILtlCENT   HALFORD. 

Mrs.  Leesoa  bad  certainly  forgotten  that 
she  was  once  herself  a  Yankee  girl,  bora 
and  bred  in  a  quiet  New  England  village, 
married  to  a  poor  clerk,  who,  by  some 
lucky  strokes  of  fortune,  became  a  wealtl|y 
merchant,  as  whose  widow  she  had  been 
honored  with  the  hand  of  the  Kentucky 
gentleman  who  had  become  her  second 
husband,  leaving  her,  after  a  short  and 
not  very  happy  marriage,  a  second  time 
a  widow. 

"You  said  Miss  Halford  was  very  young, 
I  think,"  observed  Miss  Leeson,  in  reply 
to    her   aunt's   speech. 

"Yes,  barely  seventeen.  I  wish  she  had 
been  a  year  or  two  older.''  Mrs.  Leeson 
stooped  to  gather  some  of  the  late  roses 
which  blew  in  thick  clusters  in  a  sheltered 
spot  against  the  garden-wall.  "  Her  letter 
is  ver}^  prettily  written  though;  she  claims 
to  have  had  a  tolerable  education,  and  even 
a  smattering  of  French  and  Latin —  Jim!" 
she  raised  her  voice  suddenly  to  catch  the 
ear    of   the    coach-boy,   a    tall,    ebony-colored 


THE  KENTUCKIAN  FAMILY.  27 

youth  of  twenty,  who  was  lounging  lazily 
in  the  sun  outside  the  stable  buildings, 
"harness  up  the  horses  and  drive  over  to 
the  station.  Your  master,  Frederick,  comes 
in   the   afternoon    train." 

"Yes,  missis."  The  boy  jerked  off  hi3 
cap,  and  replacing  it  on  his  woolly  head, 
started  at  a  quick  pace  to  the  stable-yard. 

"These  lazy  niggers,"  said  Mrs.  Leeson, 
turning  to  a  fresh  subject  of  conversation, 
"they  don't  half  of  them  earn  their  bread. 
They  need  a  right  smart  overseer.  That 
grain  crop  ought  to  have  been  reaped  in 
these  fine  days.  This  is  the  fourth  day 
they  have  been  at  work  upon  it;  but 
they'll  do  next  to  nothing  while  Fred,  is 
away;    he's   too    easy   with    them." 

"  Why  don't  you  manage  in  his  absence  ?  '^ 
asked  Miss  Leeson. 

"Why,  what  would  be  the  use?  His 
plans  of  governing  and  mine  don't  agree. 
We  agreed  that  1  was  to  have  the  oi'der- 
ing  of  the  house-servants,  and  he  the  out- 
of-door  hands.     That  was  the  understandiuir 


28  MILLRKM    IIALFOIID. 

wlien  lie  caine  of  age.  Fretl.  is  as  easy 
a  master  as  ever  live  J,  —  too  much  so  for 
his   own    interests." 

Mrs.  Leeson  had  got  to  the  end  of  her 
Avalk,  and,  with  her  hands  full  of  roses,  be- 
gan to  retrace  her  steps  tip  to  the  house. 
She  went  into  the  large,  open  sitting-room, 
whose  windows  opened  on  a  balcony,  or 
veranda,  running  the  length  of  that  side 
of  the  house,  while-  her  niece,  separating 
from  her  at  the  door,  sauntered  on  to  an 
orchard  of  apple-trees  which  lay  a  little  to 
the  left,  quite  within  range  of  view  from 
the  windows. 

Perhaps  the  beauty  of  the  day,  the 
mild,  warm  air,  and  tlie  soft  sunshine 
lured  the  young  lady  under  these  friendly 
shadows  which  spread  above  an  emerald 
carpet.  It  was  quite  impossible  she  could 
have  distinguished  the  tall,  stationary  figure 
which    held   a    position    in    the    background. 

"  Augusta ! " 

Miss  Leeson  gave  a  pretty  little  start 
of    surprise    as    Mr.   James    Leeson   quitted 


THE   KENTUCKIAN   FAMILY.  29 

the  fence  against  which  his  back  had 
been  placed,  and  came  up  to  }ier  side, 
holding  out  his  hand  half-entreatingly  for 
one  of  the  late  summer  roses  she  was 
drawing   absently   through    her   fingers. 

"  Will  you  give  me  one  of  these  flow- 
ers for  a  keepsake?  I  am  going  away  this 
evening." 

"  So  soon  !  "  The  color  flushed  up  faintly 
into  the  young  lady's  cheeks.  It  might 
have  been  from  the  surprise,  the  request, 
or  it  might  have  •  had  its  origin  in  quite 
another   source    of  emotion. 

"  Yes,  it  is  quite  three  days  over  the 
time  fixed  upon  for  my  stay," — Mr.  James 
possessed  himself  quietly  of  the  coveted 
flower,  which  he  was  audacious  enough  to 
take  to  his  lips,  —  "and  there  is  no  reason 
why  I  should  linger.  Frederick  will  be 
here   to-night." 

"I  shall  miss  you,"  said  Augusta,  drop- 
ping her  eyes,  and  the  quiet  fading  out 
of  the  glow  in  her  cheek  did  not  indicate 
much  pleasure  in  the  greeting  of  her  ex- 
pected bridegroom. 


BO  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

Mr.  James  did  not  take  advantage  of  the 
reply,  if  any  advantage  could  liave  been 
taken.  Perhaps  he  caught  at  the  instant 
a  glimpse  of  his  mother,  who  had  taken 
her  chair  at  one  of  the  low  French  win- 
dows opening  on  the  veranda,  an  observa- 
tion Avhich  was  taken  at  the  same  moment 
by  his  cousin.  It  was  not  desirable  to  the 
young  people  to  be  seen  in  apparently  con- 
fidential conversation  in  the  apple-orchard. 
Miss  Augusta  gathered  up  the  remnant  of 
her  flowers,  and  Mr.  James,  transferring  his 
purloined  rosebud  to  his  vest-pocket,  ac- 
companied  her   up   the  walk   to    the    house. 

Mrs.  Leeson  made  no  opposition  to  her 
son's  announcement  of  departure.  She  had, 
in  fact,  been  expecting  it  for  a  day  or 
two,  and  had  experienced  some  disquiet 
over  a  state  of  affairs  which  was  as  plain 
to  her  quick  perceptions  as  it  must  have 
been  to  those  of  an}^  other  interested  look- 
er-on. Miss  Leeson  was  certainly  allowing 
herself  to  forget  the  relations  which  she 
held  to  Frederick  as  his  affianced  wife,  and 


THE   KENTUCKIAN   FAMII^Y.  31 

James  was  surrendering  himself  with  inex- 
cusable weakness  to  a  strong  passion  for 
his   future    sister-in-law. 

"  Frederick's  coming  will  make  all  right," 
thought  the  anxious  mother,  with  a  sigh 
of  relief,  resuming  her  sewing  which,  for 
the  last  few  moments,  had  dropped  idly 
against  her  knee,  while  Augusta  languidly 
turned  the  leaves  of  a  fresh  book  upon 
the  table,  and  Mr.  James  sauntered  back 
again  into  the  open  air.  Neither  of  the 
three  was  happy  or  quite  at  ease.  Mrs. 
Leeson  could  not  crush  down  a  conscious- 
ness that  she  had  not  acted  quite  rightly 
in  bringing  about  this  engagement,  weighty 
as  were  the  considerations  that  hung  upon 
it.  Mr.  James's  natural  sense  of  honor  re- 
proached him  as  having  been  grievously  in 
error  in  yielding  weakly  to  his  unexpected 
temptation,  and  winning  away  the  affections 
of  his  brother's  betrothed.  Augusta,  she 
had  a  dismal  consciousness  that  Mr.  Fred- 
erick's appearance  was  to  take  place  that 
night,  and  that  she  was  expected  to  get 
up   a   show   of  gladness   at   his    coming. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE    RECEPTION. 

MR.  FREDERICK  LEESOX'S  carriao^e 
was  at  the  station,  drawn  up  a  few 
paces  from  the  platform,  when  that  gen- 
tleman emerged  from  the  train,  pausing  to 
assist,  with  scrupulous  politeness,  in  the  de- 
scent of  his  travelling  companion,  a  little 
slender,  plainly-attired  girl,  whom  Jim's  roll- 
ing eyes  at  once  recognized  as  the  ex- 
pected  Yankee    teacher. 

"All  well  at  home,  Jim?"  asked  Mr. 
Leeson,  leisurely  helping  his  cousin  into 
the  vehicle,  and  preparing  to  follow  her, 
while  the  boy,  who  had  sprung  down  from 
his  perch,  proceeded  to  lift  up  the  trunk 
and    valise    to    their   places. 

''  Yes,    mass'r."      Jim's     eyes     brightened 

32 


THE    RECEPTION.  33 

with  the  consciousness  of  a  valuable  piece 
of  information.  ^'  Miss  Augusta,  sir,  have 
come  down  on  a  visit,  and  Mass'r  James 
be   at   home   too." 

^'  Ah ! "  Mr.  Frederick's  face  expressed 
satisfaction.  Plainly  he  was  not  yet  in 
the  secret  of  his  lady-love's  fickleness.  He 
had  by  this  time  taken  his  place  in  the 
carriage.  Jim,  having  accomplished  the 
strapping  of  the  trunk  and  valise,  climbed 
lip  on  his  perch;  the  reins  were  drawn 
in,  and  the  horses  started  off  at  a  good 
pace. 

Millicent  leaned  on  lier  cushion,  much 
too  wearied  with  the  fatigue  of  her  unac- 
customed journey  to  look  out  at  the  scen- 
ery through  which  she  was  passing, — the 
pretty  level  grain-fields,  the  scattered  houses, 
with  their  clusters  of  barns  and  gray  out- 
buildings, the  hills  stretching  away  in  the 
distance. 

Presently  the  carriage  turned  off  from 
the  road,  and  rolled  up  a  broad  green  ave- 
nue opening  to  the  front  of  a  house,  which 
3 


34  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

seemed  to  be  composed  of  a  collection  of 
buildings,  with  a  wide  veranda  running 
round    the    western    side. 

Jim  pulled  in  his  reins  at  the  door.  Mr. 
Leeson  alighted,  and  assisted  Millicent  from 
the  carriage.  A  handsome  woman,  with 
silver  threads  just  shining  in  her  black 
hair,  which  she  wore  without  a  widow's 
cap,  came  out  into  the  hall  as  they  stepped 
in,  followed  by  a  young  lady  attired  with 
much   elegance. 

Millicent  shrunk  back  a  little  to  give 
place  to  the'  first  greeting  which  passed 
between  the  son  and  his  mother;  but  her 
part   immediately  followed. 

'-^  You  seem  very  tired,  Millicent,"  said 
Mrs.  Leeson,  giving  her  her  hand.  "  My 
niece.  Miss  Augusta  Leeson.  I  will  call 
Dinah  to  show  you  up  to  your  chamber. 
Tea  will  be  ready  in  half  an  hour." 

Millicent  was  glad  of  the  dismissal,  and 
followed  the  negress,  who,  with  a  showy 
red  bandanna  bound  round  her  head,  pre- 
ceded   her    up    the    staircase    to    the    room 


THE   RECEPTION.  35 

appropriated  to  her  use.  It  was  small, 
quite  apart  from  the  commodious  guest- 
chambers  and  the  rooms  occupied  by  the 
family ;  but  two  narrow  windows  looked 
out  on  a  pleasant  interval  of  country. 
Dinah,  Mrs.  Leeson's  special  waiting-maid, 
threw  a  glance  around  the  room,  to  see 
that  the  ewer  was  filled  with  water,  and 
everything   in    its   place. 

Millicent  began  to  take  ofif  her  bonnet 
and  bathe  her  face,  and,  after  some  little 
hesitation,  asked  that  her  trunk  might  be 
brought  up.  She  wished  to  make  a  more 
presentable  appearance  before  her  aunt 
than  her  dusty  travelling  dress  would  ad- 
mit. 

Dinah  went  out,  and,  in  a  few  moments, 
the  trunk  made  its  appearance,  and  select- 
ing a  muslin  dress  and  fresh  collar,  she 
hastened  to  finish  her  toilet.  It  was  hardly 
completed  when  the  supper-bell  rang,  and 
Dinah  reappeared  to  show  her  the  way  to 
the   dining-room. 

The    family   were    already    seated    at    the 


36  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

table.  Mrs.  Leeson  directed  Millicent  to  a 
seat  beside  her  daughter,  who  eyed  her 
new    governess  with   critical  attention. 

Little  was  said  to  Millicent  during  the 
repast.  Mr.  Frederick  Leeson  addressed  to 
her  one  or  two  observations,  making  him- 
self generally  agreeable,  like  the  thorough 
gentleman  that  he  was.  Miss  Augusta 
quite  ignored  her  presence.  (Mr.  James 
was  not  present,  having,  as  it  proved, 
started  away  on  the  same  train  by  which 
his   brother   had   arrived.) 

If  Millicent  had  entertained  any  roman- 
tic ideas  of  the  reception  which  awaited 
her,  they  must,  by  the  end  of  that  long 
half-hour,  have  been  completely  put  to 
flight.  She  saw  and  felt  that  her  position 
in  her  aunt's  family  was  to  be  simply  that 
of  a  hired  governess,  without,  perhaps,  any 
exact   statement   of  wages. 

^' When  did  you  quit  home,  Millicent?" 
asked  Mrs.  Leeson  as,  supper  over,  the 
family    withdrew   into   the  sitting-room. 

^^A   week   ago,   ma'am." 


THE   RECEPTION.  ,       37 

''  So  Frederick  kept  you  waiting  a  day 
or   two   in   New    York  ?  '^ 

"Yes,  ma'am;  he  was  not  quite  ready  to 
4art." 

"  Your  letter  missed  me,  mother,"  ob- 
•>erved  the  gentleman  from  his  distant  seat 
at  the  open  window.  "  I  did  not  get  it  till 
the   morning   I   took   the   train." 

"  It  was  Jim's  carelessness  in  neglecting 
to  post  it,  1  haven't  a  doubt,"  said  the 
lady,  emphatically ;  "  it's  just  like  him.  I 
will   look   into   it   to-morrow." 

Augusta  l%id  down  a  book,  the  leaves 
of  which  she  had  been  turning  carelessly 
under  the  blaze  of  the  astral,  as  her  cousin 
addressed  some  observation  to  her.  The 
young  lady's  face  wore  a  clouded  expres- 
sion. She  was  suffering  with  a  headache, 
she  said,  and  Mr.  Frederick's  sympathy  was 
expressed   with  much  feeling. 

'^  You  may  retire,  Millicent,  if  you  wish," 
observed  Mrs.  Leeson,  noticing  the  young 
girl's  air  of  weariness.  "  A  night's  rest 
will   put  you  up   after   your  journey.     You 


38  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

will  find  a  lamp,  if  you  can  penetrate  to 
the    kitchen." 

Millicent  said  "  Good-night,"  and  thank- 
fully accepted  her  dismissal.  A  clear,  full 
moon  was  shining  out  of  doors,  and  she 
had  no  hesitation  in  seeking  her  way  up 
to  her  chamber  without  the  doubtful  search 
into  the  servants'  regions.  The  moonlight 
shimmered  brightly  through  the  open  cur- 
tains over  the  white  counterpane  of  tlie 
bed  and  the  clieap  gray  carpet,  knotted 
here  and  there  on  its  suz'face  witli  a 
prett}'    group  of  flowers. 

^Millicent  took  her  Bible  from  her  trunk, 
and  after  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  distin- 
guish a  few  lines,  closed  the  book,  and  sur- 
rendered herself  to  a  fit  of  meditation.  She 
felt  the  strangeness  of  the  place,  and  the 
sense  of  loneliness  which  surrounded  her. 
In  her  child  days,  she  had  been  taught 
that  an  overruling  Providence  directs  the 
events  of  every  life;  and  the  lesson  learned 
at  her  mother's  knee  had  always  been 
treasui-ed  up. 


CHAPTER    V. 

FIRST  IMPRESSIONS. 

MILLICENT  did  not  wake  until  late  on 
the  following  morning.  A  night  of 
sound  sleep  had  succeeded  the  fatigues, 
of  her  journey.  The  sun  was  shining 
brightly  upon  her  pillow  when  she  opened 
her  eyes,  and  with  a  sense  of  the  late- 
ness of  the  hour,  hastened  to  rise.  The 
air  was  sweet  as  she  threw  up  her  win- 
dow and  leaned  out  for  an  instant  in  the 
pause  between  the  conclusion  of  her  sim- 
ple toilet  and  the  act  of  emerging  from 
her  chamber.  As  she  did  so,  her  ear 
caught  a  sound  which  seemed  to  be  the 
stifled  cry  of  a  human  being  in  distress, 
and  which  appeared  to  proceed  from  the 
cluster  of  out-buildings  abutting  to  the  left 
of  her   window. 

39 


40  MTLLTrivNT    ITALFORn. 

"Somebody  is  in  distress,"  thought  Mll- 
licent,   anxiously. 

The  opening  of  the  door  caused  lier  to 
draw  her  head  in,  A  bright-looking  mu- 
latto girl,  whom  she  liad  seen  waiting  on 
the  table  the  past  night,  stood  in  the 
opening. 

"  Something  is  the  matter,  Rose,"  she 
said,  hurriedly.  "  Somebody  is  hurt.  Come 
here    and    listen  !  " 

''  It's  only  Jim,  Miss  Ilalford,"  said  the 
girl,  her  eyes  dilating  with  a  curious  ex- 
pression. "  He  went  and  done  forgot  to 
post  missus'  letter  to  Mass'r  Frederick,  and 
she's   having   him   whipped   for   it." 

Millicent  shuddered.  It  was  inhuman, 
cruel !  The  color  came  up  hot  into  her 
face. 

"Missus  sent  me  up  to  tell  you  it  is 
'most  breakfast-time,"  said  the  girl,  prepar- 
ing to  go  out ;  ''  the  bell  rings  in  ten 
minutes." 

Millicent  went  back  to  listen  at  the  win- 
dow. The  muffled  cries  had  ceased.  Jim's 
punishment   was    ended. 


FIRST   IMPRESSIONS.  41 

Mrs.  Leeson  received  Millicent,  when  she 
descended  to  the  breakfast-room,  with  rather 
more  kindness  than  she  had  done  on  the 
previous  night,  and  even  expressed  a  hope 
that  sli,e  had  rested  welL  Miss  Leeson  bade 
her  a  languid  good-morning,  which  was  re- 
peated with  more  animation  by  Mr.  Fred- 
erick on  his  entrance,  and  Adele  came  run- 
ning in  from  the  garden,  her  lap  full  of 
fragrant  flowers.  It  was  a  pleasant  pic- 
ture,—  the  breakfast-table,  with  its  snowy 
damask  covering,  its  glistening .  china,  its 
fresh  rolls,  and  amber-hued  coffee ;  the  yel- 
low canaries  singing  cheerily  in  their  cage 
in  the  window;  the  bright,  warm  sunshine 
irradiating  every  corner.  But  a  shadow 
lay  over  it  all,  —  Millicent  heard,  in  fancy, 
the  cry  which  had  startled  her  in  her 
chamber. 

''1  had  Jim  whipped  this  morning  for 
forgetting  your  letter,"  observed  Mrs.  Lee- 
son toward  the  close  of  the  nearly-silent 
repast.  "  I'll  warrant  he  wont  forget  a 
thing   of  this  kind   again   in   a   hurry." 


42  MI  LUCENT    IIALFORD. 

Addle  raised  lier  eyes  suddenly  from  her 
plate  to  lier  mother's  face.  Mr.  Freder- 
ick's brow  contracted  with  a  careless  mix- 
ture of  disapproval  and  indifference.  Miss 
Lee  son  did  not  regard  the  matter  as  of 
sufiicient  importance  to  attract  her  atten- 
tion. 

"  It's  time  that  grain  crop  was  got  in," 
said  Mrs.  Leeson,  as  a  general  movement 
was  made  to  quit  the  table.  ''  The  hands 
have  been  at  it  for  a  week.  It's  over-ripe, 
and  if  a  heavy  rain  should  come  upon  it, 
it   would    beat   it   out." 

"  I  shall  see  to  it  to-day,"  said  her  son  ; 
^'there's  plenty  of  time.  Augusta,  what  are 
your  plans  for  the  morning?  Will  you 
drive,  or  a  ride  on  horseback  ?  If  the  hist, 
I    shall    be    happy   to   be   your   cavalier." 

"  I  have  a  new  book  commenced  which 
I  am  interested  to  see  the  end  of,"  re- 
plied the  young  lady,  turning  her  face  a 
little   aside    to    the    window. 

"  Adele  will  show  you  up  to  her  school- 
room,"   said    Mrs.    Leeson,    speaking    rather 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS.  43 

shortly  to  Millicent.  "  Come,  my  dear,  give 
those  flowers  to  Rose ;  she  will  dispose  of 
them  in  the  vases." 

"I  don't  want  to  be  shut  up  in  the 
schoolroom,  mamma,  this  bright  morning," 
pouted  Addle.  "  It  will  be  sure  to  bring 
back  my  headache  puzzling  over  those 
musty  books." 

"  Show  Millicent  up-stairs,"  said  Mrs.  Lee- 
son,  reaching  forward  to  take  the  flowers 
out  of  her  daughter's  hand.  ''Do  as  I  bid 
you ! " 

Adele  sulkily  obeyed,  and  preceded  her 
cousin  up  the  staircase.  The  schoolroom 
was  in  an  eastern  angle  of  the  house;  the 
door  opening  into  it  adjoined  Millicent's 
chamber.  It  was  a  large,  airy  apartment, 
well  furnished  with  maps,  charts,  and  cases 
of  books.  A  portfolio  of  drawings  lay  on 
a  table  in  a  distant  corner.  One  of  them 
had  shpped  to  the  floor.  Adele  ^^vent  for- 
ward  and   picked   it   up. 

"  Do  you  draw.  Miss  Halford  ? "  she  in- 
quired, a  faint  glow  of  interest   brightening 


44  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

up  lier  sullen  moofl.  ^^  I  like  to  paint ; 
but  I  bate  tbis  dull   grammar  and   algebra." 

<'A  little,"  said  Millicent,  taking  tbe 
drawings  from  ber  band  to  look  tbem  over. 
^^Are   tbese  sketcbes   yours?" 

Tbe  fine  toucb  displayed  in  tbem  migbt 
well   bave   elicited   tbe    surprised    question. 

"  Xo,  not  mine.  I  can't  begin  to  do  any- 
tbing   like    tbat.     Tliey   are    Fred.'s.'* 

^'  Sketcbes  of  landscapes  in  tbis  vicinity, 
I  suppose?"  bazarded  Millicent,  laying  tbem 
down.  ^'  Tiiis  last  is  exquisite,"  still  bold- 
ing  it  in  ber  band.  ^^  Tbis  wood  and  wa- 
ter,—  I    bave    seen  tbem  before.     Wbere?" 

Sbe  could  not  tell  wby  a  quick  sbud- 
der  came  over  ber,  and  tbe  bealtby  blood 
faded  out  of  ber  cbeek.  Are  tbere  sucb 
tbings  as  premonitions?  Had  sbe  seen  it 
in   ber  dreams? 

'''  Tbat  is  a  Virginia  landscape,"  said 
Adcle,  looking  at  ber  troubled  face  witb 
curious  surprise.  "  ^b-)?t  of  tbese  pictures 
are.  Frederick  sketcbed  tbem  last  spring, 
wben   be   was   at   Tudor   Hall." 


FIRST  IMPRESSIONS.  45 

Millicent  restored  it  to  its  place  in  the 
portfolio,  and  commenced  examining  her  pu- 
pil, to  ascertain  the  extent  of  her  acquire- 
ments. If  she  had  feared  that  her  young 
cousin  was  already  too  far  advanced  to  de- 
rive much  benefit  from  her  instructions,  she 
was  soon  agreeably  disappointed,  and  quite 
surprised,  by  the  lamentable  ignorance  that 
met   her   researches. 

"  We  will  take  these  French  verbs  this 
morning,"  she  said,  marking  off  the  first 
lesson ;  '^  and  these  exercises  in  algebra  are 
to  follow." 

Adele  seated  herself  with  a  dismal  res- 
ignation in  her  corner,  and  Milhcent  took 
up  a  stray  volume  of  poems  which  had 
found  its  way  up  from  the  sitting-room  ta- 
ble. 

'^If  I  can  only  make  her  love  me,"  she 
thought,  glancing  at  the  momentarily-ab- 
sorbed child,  ^'I  shall  not  feel  quite  alone." 

Could   she? 


CnAPTER    YI. 


GLAD  were  both  teacher  and  pupil  when 
the  long  morning  finally  came  to  an 
end,  and  the  dinner-bell  summoned  them  to 
the  lower  regions.  Adele  had  blundered 
through  her  French  verbs,  and  came  to  a 
determined  stop  over  her  second  tough 
problem  in  algebra.  Still  the  patience  and 
gentleness  of  her  new  teaclier  were  not 
wholly  thrown  away.  She  did  not  scold 
her,  like  odious  Madame  Marchet,  or  threat- 
en, like  sour  Miss  Lindsley,  to  report  her 
dulness   and   inattention   to   mamma. 

The  afternoon  was  at  Millicent's  disposal, 
and,  on  leaving  the  dining-room,  a  few 
steps  behind  her  aunt,  she  sauntered  out 
on    the    lawn    in    front    of   the    house,   and 

4G 


AUNT  PHILLIS'   SICKNESS.  47 

after  exploring  the  garden,  turaed  into  a 
path  which  led  off  in  the  direction  of  the 
kitchen  and  out-buildings.  The  windows  of 
the  first  were  open.  A  slender,  wearied- 
looking  woman  was  standing  at  her  iron- 
ing-table, which  she  had  placed  in  a  posi- 
tion to  take  advantage  of  the  little  fresh 
air  which  was  stirring.  A  little  child,  of 
a  year  or  more,  was  playing  in  the  door- 
way. Both  the  mother  and  child  were 
white,  the  former  with  only  the  faintest 
traces  of  mulatto  blood  in  her  rich  com- 
plexion. 

Millicent  stopped  to  speak  to  the  child, 
and  accepted  the  chair  which  the  woman 
left   her   work   to   place    for   her. 

"  I've  been  so  hurried  to-day ! "  said  the 
laundress.  "  Mistress  expected  me  to  get 
this  done  an  hour  ago;  but  what  with  this 
troublesome  child  and  Aunt  Phillis  to  tend 
upon,  I  couldn't.  Baby's  good  now  though," 
glancing  at  the  child,  rolled  up  in  a  ball 
on  the  doorstep,  "and  aunty  will  have  to 
wait   awhile   for   her   cup   of  balm  tea." 


48  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

Millicent  glanced  at  tlie  pitclier  of  herbs 
steeping  upon  the  stove,  struck  by  the 
last  observation,  and  hesitated  to  offer  her 
services.  The  woman  eyed  her  witli  some 
curiosity,  looking  up  from  her  steady  proc- 
ess of  smoothing  the  muslins,  a  large  pile 
of  which  still  lay  damp  upon  the  table. 
It  was  her  first  sight  of  the  new  govern- 
ess. 

^'  It  will  take  you  some  time  to  finish 
yet,"  observed  Millicent  presently.  "  Shall  I 
take  the  tea  up  to  the  sick  woman?  I 
have   nothing   to    do." 

"  Thank  you  ver}^  kindly.  Miss  Ilalford," 
said  the  woman,  proceeding  at  once  to 
pour  it  out, —  ''if  'tisn't  too  much  trouble. 
Phillis'  chamber  is  up  them  stairs,  the  sec- 
ond door  to  the  right.  She's  down  sick, 
poor  aunty  !  Got  a  fever  on  her,  I  think-, 
and  worry  of  mind  too."  The  last  sen- 
tence she  added  in  a  lowered  voice,  half 
to  herself 

Millicent  took  up  the  bowl  of  medicine, 
and    proceeded    as    well    as    she    could    up 


AUNT   PIIILLIS'    SICKNESS.  49 

the  steep  stairway.  She  knocked  at  the 
door. 

"  Come  in,"  said  a  feeble  voice,  and 
raising  the  latch,  she  found  herself  in  a 
small  chamber,  lighted  by  a  narrow  win- 
dow, the  open  sash  of  which  afforded  a 
very  imperfect  ventilation,  besides  letting 
an  unhealthy  draught  directly  upon  the 
head  of  the  straw  pallet,  which,  with  a 
chair  and  small  table,  constituted  the  fur- 
niture. An  aged  negress,  her  brow  wrin- 
kled with  farrows,  and  her  short  hair 
blanched  to  a  grizzly  white,  lay  on  the 
bed,  and  sent  a  restless  glance  toward  the 
door  as  it   opened. 

"  Laws,  miss,  you  needn't  hab  taken  de 
pains,"  she  said,  as  Millicent  poured  out  a 
part  of  the  .tea  in  a  cup  which  stood  on 
the  table,  and  bent  over  the  bed.  ^'  I  can 
drink   widout   being   helped." 

''You  seem  very  feverish,"  remarked  her 
visitor,  conquering  her  repugnance  to  sit 
down  in  the  vacant  chair,  which  she  saw 
•plainly,  in  the  wistful  eyes  watching  her, 
she   was  expected   to   do. 


60  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 


"  Yes,  dear,  I's  bery  sick."  She  lay 
back   with    a    groan. 

MiUicent  debated  in  her  mind  the  pro- 
priety of  closing  the  window  and  opening 
the  door.  The  latter  would  all'ord  better 
ventilation.  To  leave  both  open,  with  the 
full  air  beginning  to  stir  out  of  doors, 
would  hazard  too  powerful  a  draught.  The 
sick   woman    groaned   again. 

"  You  seem  very  ill,"  said  Millicent,  gcn- 
i\y.     "  Have   you    had   a  doctor  ? " 

"  No,  chile.  Missus  was  in  last  night, 
and  she  didn't  tink  it  necessary.  She  said 
to  Susan,  gib  me  plenty  ob  balm  tea.  But 
I's  worse  to-day.  It's  all  'bout  Jim,  miss. 
Tears  like  I  can't  keep  him  out  ob  my 
mind." 

Millicent  remembered  the  little  event  of 
the  morning,  which  had  thrown  such  a 
shadow  over  her  spirits  upon  her  first  in- 
troduction   to   her   new   home. 

The  old  woman  hesitated  to  open  her 
troubles  to  the  Yankee  governess;  but  ^lil- 
licent's   sympathizing   looks,  with   the   light- 


AUNT   PHILLIS'    SICKNESS.  51 

headedness  of  fever,  which  was  beginning 
to  impart  a  restless  hurry  to  her  spirits, 
loosened   her   tongue. 

'•'It's  all  'bout  Jim's  being  whipped,  miss; 
he  aint  used  to  it.  I's  worrying  what'll 
come  ob  it.  Missus  don't  know  him;  he's 
a  smart,  bright  boy ;  but  he  wont  be  good 
for  anyting  now  de  whip's,  been  used;  he's 
jes'   like   what   his   farder   was." 

"  Is  Jim  your  grandson  ? "  asked  Milli- 
cent,  less  from  curiosity  than  a  loss  what 
to   say.  I 

"  Yes,  dear,  and  he's  all  I's  got  left  to 
me  in  de  worP.  Missus  bought  him  when 
she  bought  me ;  dat's  a  good  many  years 
ago.  He  was  a  little  bright  pickaninny 
of  ten,  and  I  was  a  smart,  strong  woman. 
Tears  like  I's  'most  got  through  my  la- 
bors   now." 

"Is    your    son    living?"   asked    Millicent. 

"I  dunno,  dear.  He  was  sold  down  in 
Georgia  'fore  I  came  here.  I  b'longed  to 
Mas'r  Rhet,  and  Harry  did  too.  It  nearly 
tore    my    heart    out    to    part    wid    him,    de 


52  MILLICKNT    IIALFC >Un. 

boy,  and  see  him  go  off  in  do  driver's 
gang ;  but  one  poor  comfort,  he  couldn't 
fare  worse  dan  he  had.  "Mas'r's  oberseer 
"used   to   beat   him    cruelly." 

"  Miss  Halford,"  said  Ad61e,  putting  her 
head  into  the  chamber,  "mamma  wants  to 
speak   to    you." 

The  girl's  face  expressed  much  wonder 
at  her  governess'  occupation,  as  Millicent, 
putting  the  cup  which  she  held  in  her 
hand  on  the  table,  rose  to  follow  her  down 
the  staircase. 

"I  have  looked  all  over  the  house  for 
you,"  said  Adele,  "  till  Susan  told  me  you 
were    with    Aunt    Phillis." 

The  laundress  was  still  at  work  on  the 
muslins  as  they  crossed  the  kitchen.  The 
pile    showed   little    diminution. 

Mrs.  Leeson  was  in  the  sitting-room,  sew- 
ing  at   one    of  the    open    windows. 

'^  Can  you  do  fine  sewing,  Millicent?" 
she    asked,    as    her   niece  joined    her. 

"  Yes,   ma'am,  very   well." 

"  Perhaps   you  will    c^ssist    me   then   over 


AUNT  PHILLIS'   SICKNESS.  53 

this,"  rising  to  get  her  basket,  which  stood 
on   the   table. 

Milhcent  accepted  the  offered  work,  and 
drew  her  chair  at  a  respectful  distance 
from   her   aunt's. 

Adele  inquired  for  her  cousin.  Augusta 
had  gone  out  to  drive  with  Frederick,  Mrs. 
Leeson  replied,  with  an  air  of  satisfaction; 
they  had  taken  a  long  distance,  to  some 
spot  she  mentioned,  and  would  probably 
not   be    at   home   before    nightfall. 

Adele  pouted  slightly.  She  would  have 
liked   to    share   this   pleasure. 

*'  Miss  Halford  has  been  up  with  Aunt 
Phillis,  mamma,'^  she  said  presently.  "  I 
found  her  in  her  room.  Aunty  looks  really 
sick." 

Mrs.  Leeson  threw  a  quick,  dissatisfied 
glance   at   her   niece. 

"  If  Phillis  gets  worse,  I  must  send  for 
a  doctor,"  she  said.  "I  saw  nothing  alarm- 
ing when  I  visited  her  last  night.  The 
balm  tea  she  is  taking  will  check  the  fe- 
ver." 


54  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

"I  guess  aunty  worries  about  Jim's  be- 
ing whipped,"  said  Adcle.  "  Rose  said  she 
was    quite   out   of  her   head    this   morning." 

"  Pshaw  !  "  said  her  mother.  "  The  boy 
needed  it  before  this ;  he'd  have  got  it, 
too,  if  he  had  had  a  right  smart  master, 
instead  of  a  woman,  to  train  liim.  He  will 
have  a  better  memory  for  it,  after  he  gets 
out  of  his    sullenness." 

He  was  sullen  then.  Millicent  bent  lower 
over  her  sewing.  Every  word  of  her  aunt 
seemed  to  bring  to  her  a  throb  of  pain. 
The  young  girl  had  heard  in  her  distant 
New  England  home  of  a  race  of  people 
who  were  bought  and  sold  like  dumb  beasts 
in  the  market ;  but  the  story  had  floated 
past  her  like  an  idle  tale.  Now  she  found 
herself  standing  on  the  threshold  of  these 
scenes   of  wretchedness   and   misery. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE  MORTGAGE. 

IF  Mr.  James  Leeson  had  improved  his 
brother's  absence  to  lay  suit  to  his  be- 
trothed, during  his  accidental  visit  to  his 
home  in  the  beginning  of  her  stay,  the 
lost  ground  seemed,  to  all  outward  appear- 
ance, to  be  pretty  elFectually  recovered  by 
Mr.  Frederick.  Augusta's  headache  passed 
off  with  the  evening  of  his  arrival;  the 
interesting  book  which  had  detained  her  in- 
doors from  the  pleasure  of  a  tete-a-tete 
drive  with  her  lover  was  finished  in  the 
course  of  the  morning,  and  at  the  supper- 
table  the  young  lady  presented  a  face  as 
smiling  and  rosy  as  it  was  ever  her  wont 
to  wear.  Only  one  present  guessed  that 
she   had  had  a   hard   struggle  with   herself, 

55 


56  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

and  had  come  off,  for  the  time,  at  least,  con- 
queror. No  doubt,  the  maimer  of  her  part- 
ing with  Mr.  James  had  helped  in  her 
newly-formed  decision.  The  gentleman  had 
taken  his  leave  of  her  in  the  presence  of 
his  mother,  Avith  a  cool  empressement  which 
whispered  no  hope  upon  his  part  of  an 
early  meeting.  It  had  only  been  a  flirta- 
tion. Augusta  had  said  it  angril}-  to  her- 
self the  past  night  upon  her  pillow ;  or, 
if  he  really  cared  for  her,  —  and  words  and 
tones  came  up  to  keep  that  idea  in  her 
mind,  —  his  passion  was  not  strong  enough 
to    overleap   the    obstacles   between    them. 

Mrs.  Leeson  was  much  pleased  with  this 
favorable  turn  of  affairs ;  but  a  doubt  was 
beginning  to  cross  her  mind  as  to  the  ex- 
pediency of  delaying  this  marriage  six 
months,  which  would  bring  round  the  end 
of  April,  the  time  fixed  upon  for  the  wed- 
ding. Augusta  had  demurred  at  May,  with 
the  old  English  prejudice  that  it  was  an 
ill-omened  month  lor  a  bridal.  A  looker-on 
might  have  doubted  if  this  marriage  would 


THE   MORTGAGE.  57 

prove  fruitful  of  happiness  under  any  cir- 
cumstances. 

Mrs.  Leeson,  like  the  wise  and  provident 
woman  that  she  was,  took  an  opportunity 
of  breaking  the  subject  to  her  son,  open- 
ing it,  not  upon  the  ground  which  was 
actuaUy  the  basis  of  her  interest,  but  from 
quite  a  different  point.  She  alluded  to  the 
unfortunate  pecuniary  circumstances  which 
had  first  aroused  her  interest  in  the  match, 
and  the  partial  mortgage  that  lay  upon 
her  son's  estate,  and  which  would  come 
due  by  '  the  approaching  January.  It  was 
in  the  dusk  of  twilight.  The  mother  and 
son  had  found  a  few  moments  alone  in  the 
sitting-room ;  Augusta  had  just  left  them ; 
Millicent  and  Adele  were  taking  a  stroll 
in   the   garden. 

Frederick  colored,  and  made  a  nrovement 
as  if  he  would  have  interrupted  his  moth- 
er's flow  of  words.  He  really  loved  his 
cousin  in  his  quiet  way,  and  though  not 
bhnd  to  the  advantages  to  accrue  from  her 
U'ealth  in  his  unhappily  embarrassed  circum- 


58  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

stances,  he  had  much  too  correct  a  sense 
of  honor  to  have  a^jked  the  hand  of  any 
woman   solely   from    that    circumstance. 

^'  Bonnet  will  wait,"  he  said,  carelessly. 
"He  is  an  old  neighbor,  and  will  not  be 
in   a   hurry   to    foreclose    the    mortgage." 

"  I  am  not  sure,"  said  Mrs.  Leeson,  a 
little  uneasily.  ''  We  are  old  neighbors,  as 
you  say;  but  the  state  of  affairs  between 
us  is  not  quite  what  it  used  to  be.  James 
has  been  foolishly  offering  some  attentions 
to    his    daughter." 

''  It  would  be  a  respectable  match  for 
him,"  said  Frederick.  ^^  The  young  lady  is 
amiable  and  agreeable.  My  dear  mother, 
what   objections  can   you   have    to   otTer?" 

''I?  The  affair  seems  to  be  broken  off. 
That  is  the  matter.  Your  brother  James 
is  like  most  other  young  men,  —  always 
caught   by   the   last  pretty   face." 

''Ah,"  said  Frederick,  musingly.  ''Well, 
I  don't  think  this  will  make  any  differ- 
ence with  Mr.  Bennet.  If  it  should,  I 
dare   say   I   can   easily    raise   a   loan." 


THE    MORTGAGE.  59 

"Just  like  you,"  said  his  mother,  shortly, 
"putting  off  till  to-morrow  everything  that 
has  the  appearance  of  care  or  trouble ; 
but  why  not  hurry  up  your  marriage  a 
little?  It  may  as  well  take  place  at  New 
Year's   as   in  April.'' 

There  was  some  propriety  in  the  sugges- 
tion.    Frederick  thoughtfully   considered  it. 

"  Your  engagement  has  lasted  for  a  year,'' 
observed  his  mother.  "  Augusta's  stay  with 
us,  she  told  me  an  hour  ago,  will  not  ex- 
tend beyond  the  middle  of  November;  she 
has  promised  her  guardian  to  return  by 
that  time.  Of  course,  you  will  escort  her 
home,  a  favorable  opportunity  to  ask  for 
the    shortening   of  your   probation." 

Perhaps  the  mother  and  son  would  not 
have  felt  quite  as  composed  in  this  care- 
less tete-a-tete,  had  they  been  aAvare  that, 
in  her  exit,  Augusta  had  left  the  door  that 
opened  behind  them  ajar,  and  for  herself, 
had  gone  no  farther  than  the  wide  entry, 
in  which  she  loitered  to  enjoy  the  cool 
air  from  the  veranda.  In  this  position,  all 
of  her  aunt's  remarks  reached  her  ears,  and 


60  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

a  portion  of  bcr  cousin's  replies.  The  em- 
barrassed circumstances  of  her  future  hus- 
band were  for  the  first  time  made  known 
to  her,  and  a  second  thought  told  her  that 
her  ignorance  of  the  moment  before  had 
been  fully  shared  by  her  guardian.  A  tu- 
mult of  angry  blood  rushed  to  her  tem- 
ples ;  she  stood  perfectly  still,  to  struggle 
with  the   new   revelation. 

''How  fortunate  that  I  do  not  love  him!'^ 
she  thought.  *'  And  I  have  been  blaming 
myself  for    doing   him   injustice!" 

The  quick  steps  of  Millicent  and  Addle 
were  hurrying  up  the  walk  a  moment  later, 
and  the  supper-bell  would  soon  ring.  She 
glided  on  tip-toe  through  the  entry,  and 
managed  to  make  a  noiseless  ascent  of  the 
staircase,  the  soft  carpet  burying  the  sound 
of  her   footsteps. 

Perhaps  her  conscience  told  her  she  had 
not  acted  rightly  in  listening;  yet  the  cur- 
rent of  air  through  the  unclosed  door  had 
borne  the  conversation  to  her  ears  with  the 
first  sentence.  How  could  she  choose  but 
listen? 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

JIM'S   FLIGHT. 

MRS.  LEESON  was  at  fault  in  suppos- 
ing  Phillis'  sickness  to  be  but  a  slight 
attack  of  fever  from  which  a  few  days 
would  see  her  recovered.  The  old  woman 
grew  much  worse,  and  at  the  last  point 
the  doctor  was  called.  He  felt  her  pulse, 
examined  her  symptoms,  and  pronounced 
the  case  a  hopeless  one,  which  might  ter- 
minate  fatally   in   twenty-four   hours. 

Rose,  the  bright-faced  mulatto  girl,  wiped 
away  a  few  tears.  Jim,  the  most  inter- 
ested person,  heard  the  announcement  of 
his  grandmother's  condition  with  the  appar- 
ently sullen  indifference  which  had  charac- 
terized him  since  the  morning  of  the  whip- 
ping. 

61 


62  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

"  Phillis  was  a  good  servant  in  lier  clay," 
remarked  Mrs.  Leeson,  coming  back  from 
her  visit  to  the  chamber;  "but  she  had 
got  to  be  so  old  and  decrepit  she  had 
almost  got  through  her  labors;  she  was  of 
little  use  before  this  attack  came  on ; " 
and    she    dismissed    the    subject. 

Millicent  bent  over  her  work  with  a 
pressure  of  uneasy  thoughts.  Death  in  the 
house !  It  wore  to  her  a  solemn  a[)i)ear- 
ance;  she  could  not  put  it  out  of  her  re- 
flections. 

The  last  stitch  was  taken  in  the  muslin 
skirt  which  her  aunt  had  given  her  to 
complete.  Mrs.  Leeson  was  gone  out,  and 
Millicent,  with  an  idle  half-hour  upon  her 
hands,  threaded  her  way  out  aimlessly  into 
the  kitchen.  A  dull,  drizzling  rain  was 
falling  out  of  doors,  an  unlooked-for  change 
from  the  clear,  bright  atmosphere  of  the 
previous  day.  Susan  was  busy  over  some 
plain  sewing,  with  her  baby  crawling  con- 
tentedly on  the  floor.  Lizzie,  the  cook, 
was  actively  kneading    dough    for    the    sup- 


jim's  flight.  63 

per  biscuit.  Both  looked  np  at  Millicent's 
appearance.  Their  serious  faces  contrasted 
with  the  indifferent  ones  she  had  just  left. 
Susan's    eyes   were    suspiciously   swollen. 

^*How  is  Fhillis  getting  on?"  asked  Mil- 
licent,  in  a  low  voice,  stepping  into  the 
room. 

'^  Poorly,  Miss  Halford,"  said  Susan,  drop- 
ping her  eyes.  ''  Rose  said  a  minute  ago 
she  was  just  gone.  Wont  you  step  up  and 
see    her?"    she   asked,    rising. 

Millicent  hesitated ;  but  the  girl  was  al- 
ready on  the  staircase,  and  some  indefin- 
able feeling  told  her  she  might  possibly  be 
of  use  in  that  death  chamber.  She  had 
seen  her  father  die.  His  calm,  peaceful 
sinking  away  had  divested  death  of  much 
of  her  childish  terror.  She  went  up  be- 
hind Susan  with  a  few  quickened  heart- 
beats, and  stopped  at  the  door  of  the 
chamber. 

The  dying  woman  was  quite  conscious; 
her  head  lay  back  on  the  pillow,  her  large 
eyes  wide    open,   and   her  hands   keeping  a 


64:  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

tremulous  movement  on  tlie  bed-clothes. 
She  was  quite  alone,  Rose,  who* had  been 
keeping  watch  with  her,  having  just  stepped 
out.  The  power  of  speech  had  not  yet  left 
her. 

'•Is  dat  you,  Susan?"  she  asked,  looking 
toward    the    door.     '' I's   very   tliirsty." 

Millicent  gave  her  the  cup  of  water  that 
stood   on   the    table. 

*'  'Most  ober  Jordan,"  she  whispered,  in 
her  husky  voice,  "  de  Lord  be  praised ! 
It's  all  clear  now.  He'll  bring  Jim  safe. 
I's   not   'fraid    to    trust   him   now." 

Millicent  sat  down  in  the  chair,  and  put 
her  handkerchief  to  her   eyes. 

^'  If  you  would  please  read  a  chapter, 
Miss  Halford,"  whispered  Susan,  "  I'm  sure 
she    would    like  it." 

Millicent   looked   for   the   Bible. 

"I  will  run  into  mistress'  room  and  get 
it,"    said   Susan,  hurrying    out. 

^'  Is  it  possible  she  has  no  Bible  of  her 
own  ? "  thought  Millicent.  She  forgot,  for 
the  moment,  that   a  knowledge   of  letters  is 


JIM'S  FLIGHT.  65 

supposed  by  their  masters  to  place  slaves 
above  their  condition.  She  might  be  par- 
doned in  this  early  instance  for  her  for- 
getfulness ;  for  Susan's  skin  was  little  re- 
moved  in   tint   from   her   own. 

Susan  came  back  with  the  handsomely- 
clasped  volume,  and  Millicent,  opening  it, 
turned  to  that  beautiful  chapter  of  John 
which  will  be  read  in  death  chambers  and 
sorrowing  homes  so  long  as  the  earth  is 
peopled  with  the  sorrowing  and  the  dying. 
She  read  on,  interrupted  now  and  then  by 
Aunt  Phillis'  fervent  ejaculations,  till  the 
close  was  reached.  Rose  had  come  back, 
and   she    got   up   to    go   out. 

A  change  had  taken  place  in  the  dying 
woman.  As,  in  the  act  of  rising,  she  looked 
toward  the  bed,  Millicent  saw  that  her  eyes 
were  set,  and  the  restless  hands  lay  quite 
still.  Rose,  with  the  animation  peculiar  to 
her  race,   burst   into   loud   sobs. 

"Hush,"  said  Susan,  "hush.  Rose!     You^l 
disturb  her;  she's  going  out  of  all  her  trou- 
bles.    I  wish  I  was  going  too,  I  do ! " 
5 


66  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

Millicent  stepped  out,  the  last  words  ring- 
ing painfully  in  her  ears.  What  if  she,  too, 
had  been  born  a  slave,  like  poor  Susan? 

Nothing  was  said  of  the  dying  old  ser- 
vant around  the  supper-table.  The  conver- 
sation flowed  on  between  Mrs.  Leeson  and 
her  son.  Augusta  was  moodily  silent,  speak- 
ing only  when  spoken  to,  and  then  with  an 
apparent  effort;  and  little  was  addressed  to 
Millicent. 

The  evening  passed  much  as  usual.  Fred- 
erick and  Augusta  varied  its  monotony  by 
a  game  of  chess.  Adcle  watched  the  play. 
Mrs.  Leeson  took  up  a  book,  and  Millicent 
made   a   show    of  following   her   example. 

A  few  stars  were  shining  through  the 
rifts  of  cluuds  when  Millicent  went  up  to 
her  chamber.  The  storm,  which  had  ex- 
hausted itself  during  the  last  hour  in  a 
torrent  of  rain-drops,  was  breaking  away. 
She  thought  of  poor  old  Phillis  as  she  sent 
her  gaze  up  into  the  blue  depths.  Almost 
home  !  The  fetters  of  a  slave  about  to 
drop   from   her   wearied   limbs !      What   ec3- 


67 

tatic  happiness  and  joy  waited  to  crown 
her ! 

Mrs.  Leeson  brought  a  clouded  face  to 
the  breakfast-table  on  the  following  morn- 
ing. Something  had  gone  wrong.  Millicent 
saw  that  plainly  in  her  absorbed  preoccu- 
pation. 

"Jim  has  run  off/'  she  said,  relieving  her 
mind  of  the  announcement  toward  the  close 
of  the  meal. 

Frederick  started,  and  put  down  the  cup 
which  he  was  in  the  act  of  raising  to  his 
lips.  Augusta  went  on  deliberately  with 
the  process  of  spreading  the  remnant  of 
her  roll.  Adele  stopped  with  her  toast  on 
her  fork. 

"  You  must  be  mistaken,  mother ! "  said 
Frederick.     "  When    did   you    find   it    out  ? " 

"  A  few  moments  ago.  I  wanted  to  send 
him  on  an  errand,  and  he  was  nowhere  to 
be  found.'' 

"  Have  you  had  the  out-buildings  exam- 
ined?" 

"Yes,  thoroughly;   his  cot  was   not  slept 


68  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

ill  last  night ;  be  was  not  seen  by  any  of 
our  people  after  tbe  first  part  of  tbe  even- 
ing." 

"  He  bas  got  a  good  start,"  said  Fred- 
erick, with  a  lowering  brow,  as  be  pusbed 
back  bis  cbair  from  tbe  table.  ''  I  must 
set  out  at  once  to  searcb  for  bim.  Wby 
did  you  not  tell  me  wben  you  first  made 
tbe    discovery  ?  " 

"  A  few  moments  will  make  little  differ- 
ence. I  did  not  wisb  to  interrupt  break- 
fast. He  cannot  have  got  far  on  foot; 
most  likely  be  is  resting  now  in  some 
w^oods." 

"It  was  a  dark  nigbt/'  observed  Mr. 
Leeson,  ratber  to  bimself,  as  be  turned  to 
go  out. 

Millicent  beard  bim  call  to  bis  body  ser- 
vant, from  tbe  next  room,  to  get  out  bis 
horse.  She  sat  balancing  her  spoon  trem- 
bbngly  on  her  cup.  None  of  the  family 
had  followed  Mr.  Leeson's  hurried  move- 
ment of  departure  from  tbe  tal»Ie.  If  tbe 
poor  slave  should  be  overtaken  and  brou.c^bt 


jim's  flight.  69 

back,  what  would  be  bis  punishment?  She 
felt  at  that  moment  that,  if  circumstances 
had  permitted,  she  could  have  done  a  great 
deal  to  assist  in  his  concealment  from  his 
master.  She  saw  the  latter  ride  past  the 
window  a  few  minutes  later,  in  the  bright 
sunshine,  closely  followed  by  his  servant, 
Tom,  and  Mrs.  Leeson  at  the  same  instant 
gave    the    signal   for   rising. 

"Oh,  how  earnestly  I  hope  he  may  be 
going  on  a  fruitless  errand ! "  prayed  Mil- 
licent;  but  the  dull  sinking  at  her  heart 
told  her  that  her  fears  held  more  than  a 
balance   with   her   hopes. 


.    CHAPTER    IX. 

RETURN    OF   THE   FUGITITE. 

MR.  LEESOX  did  not  make  his  appear- 
ance at  dinner.  He  did  not,  in  fact, 
arrive  at  home  till  near  nightfalL  Millicent 
was  sitting  by  the  open  window  when  she 
saw  him  ride  up  the  avenue,  his  mounted 
servant  following  behind  him,  and  another 
figure,  which  she  was  at  no  loss  to  iden- 
tify as  poor  Jim's,  moving  rapidly  along 
at  his  horse's  rein.  This  was  the  culmi- 
nation of  her  feverish  restlessness  through 
the  long  day,  of  her  nervous  starts  at  the 
warbling  of  a  bird,  or  the  falling  of  a  dead 
leaf  Oh,  if  she  could  only  gather  the  cour- 
age to  beg  Mr.  Frederick  to  be  merciful, 
and  for  this  once  to  let  the  poor  fellow's 
offence   go   unpunished  I 

70 


RETURN   OP   THE   FUGITIVE.  71 

She  turned  to  look  at  Miss  Leeson,  who 
had  come  out  of  the  reverie  which  had 
held  her  through  the  morning,  and  was 
chatting  with  Adele,  who,  with  her  lap 
full  of  roses,  lingered  on  her  way  to  the 
dining-room. 

''  Jim  is  found  ! "  said  Mrs.  Leeson,  sud- 
denly opening  the  door.  ''He  has  led  Fred- 
erick a  long  hunt;  he  will  get  his  punish- 
ment for  this,  and  a  hard  punishment  too. 
Adele,  where  is  Eose?  I  saw  her  in  the 
garden    with   you   a   minute    ago.'^ 

"She  Avent  round  to  the  kitchen,  mamma, 
as   I   turned   to   come    this    way." 

"  Very  well."  She  closed  the  door,  Adele 
passing   out   with   her. 

Millicent  turned  to  Augusta,  conquering 
the  dislike  which  that  lady's  distant  ways 
toward   herself  had   caused,   to  address   her. 

''Miss  Leeson,"  she  said,  hurriedl}-,  "will 
you  intercede  with  Mr.  Fi-ederick  for  poor 
Jim?  He  will  have  him  beaten  terribly  for 
this    running   aAvay,    if  you    do  not." 

Augusta  lifted  up  her  eyes  in  extreme 
astonishment. 


72  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

^'  I  never  interfere  in  such  matters,  Miss 
Hallbrd,"    she    replied,    coldly. 

"What  a  fool  I  was,"  thought  Millicent, 
"  to  suppose  she  had  a  grain  of  feeling  in 
her   heart !  '^ 

It  would  be  to  no  purpose  to  ask  Adele; 
she  was  but  a  child,  and  her  entreaties 
would  avail  nothing.  Her  aunt  she  well 
knew  to  be  inflexible.  Her  heart  sank 
with   a   dumb   helplessness. 

The  supper-bell  rang  shortly.  Mr.  Leeson 
made  his  appearance,  freshened  by  a  change 
of  suit  from  the  disorder  of  his  journey, 
and    quite   in    his   usual    even  spirits. 

Nothing  was  said  of  Jim  until  the  close 
of  the  meal ;  then,  as  the  movement  to 
leave  the  table  was  made,  Augusta  care- 
lessly  asked   her   cousin, — 

"Where    did   you   find   your   runaway?" 

"  In  a  wood  about  twelve  miles  from 
here.  A  good  night's  walk  he  made  of  it. 
I  should  have  been  back  before;  but  I 
passed  the  spot  a  long  way,  and  then 
turned    back    and     beat    in    all    directions. 


RETURN   OP   THE   FUGITIVE.  73 

Nobody  had  seen  liim.  It  was  merely  per- 
severance   that   hunted   him   up." 

MiUicent   shuddered. 

"  He  will  have  time  to  repent  his  folly," 
said  Mr.  Leeson.  "■  I  have  ordered  him  a 
moderate  whipping,  and  shall  keep  him  on 
bread  and  water  for  three  or  four  days, 
with  little    of  that.'' 

"  Your  leniency  is  all  thrown  away,'^ 
added  his  mother ;  "  the  boy  needs  a  se- 
vere castigation.  Nothing  short  of  the 
whip  will  take  the  sullenijess  out  of  him. 
He'll  run  away  again  as  soon  as  he  gets 
a   chance ! " 

"  I  don't  believe  in  whipping,"  said  Mr. 
Frederick,  '^  only  when  it  can't  be  helped, 
and  then  moderately.  Mother  and  I  seldom 
agree   upon   this    point." 

Miss  Leeson  did  not  give  her  opinion. 
Probably  the  subject  possessed  little  inter- 
est for  her.  The  family  adjourned  to  the 
sitting-room,  where  Mr.  Leeson's  portfolio 
was  discovered  lying  on  the  table,  having 
made  its  descent   in  Adele's  hands  from  the 


14:  MILLTCENT   HALFORD. 

upper  regions  of  the  schoolroom.  One  or 
two  of  the  sketches  proved  to  be  new  to 
Augusta,  and  she  began  to  turn  tliem  over. 
MilHcent,  unnoticed  by  the  group  in  the 
conversation  which  came  on,  shortly  quit- 
ted her  corner,  and  stepped  out  through 
the  low,  open  window  on  the  veranda. 
She  had  at  first  no  object  in  her  change 
of  position  beyond  a  longing  to  feel  the 
breath  of  the  cool  night  air  upon  her  fe- 
vered temples ;  but,  mechanically,  her  steps 
turned  toward  .the  angle  formed  by  the 
kitchen,  in  the  direction  of  the  out-build- 
ings, in  one  of  which,  out  of  the  group, 
she  knew  the  recovered  slave  must  be 
confined.  The  kitchen  was  alight,  as  she 
passed,  and  the  figures  within  distinctly 
visible.  Rose  w^as  sitting  at  a  little  dis- 
tance from  the  table,  her  head  bent  down 
upon  her  hands ;  Susan  was  steadily  sew- 
ing; Lizzie  was  paring  a  pan  of  apples. 
She  threw  a  glance  up  at  the  dark  win- 
dow of  Phillis's  chamber,  just  visible  by 
the     light    of    the    stars.      Phillis    was    no 


RETURN   OF   THE   FUGITIVE.  75 

longer  there;  her  worn-out  form  had  been 
laid  away  that  afternoon  to  its  kindred 
dust   in   the    httle    graveyard   on    the    slope. 

"  I  wonder  if  they  know  in  heaven  what 
befalls  us  here?"  queried  Millicent,  as  she 
groped  her  way  on.  She  passed  the  car- 
riage-house and  the  stable.  A  little  farther 
on  a  low  moan  drew  her  attention.  This 
must  be  the  place  in  which  Jim  was  con- 
fined. "  How  much  I  should  like  to  see 
him  and  speak  to  him  ! ''  she  thought ;  '^  but 
I   dare    not."  ^ 

Another  figure  came  gliding  up,  as  she 
stood  back  in  the  shadow,  and  passed  close 
to  the  locked  door.  It  bore  Susan's  height 
and  figure,  a  handkerchief  closely  envelop, 
ing   the    head. 

^'  Jim,"  she  said,  in  a  low  whisper,  put- 
ting her  mouth  close  to  the  aperture  of 
the    key-hole,  —  "  Jim  !  " 

"Who's  dar?"  asked  a  sullen  voice  in- 
side. 

"It's  me,  Jim, —  only  Susan.  How  do  you 
feel    to-night?      I've    run    out    to    speak    to 


76  MILLTCENT    HALFORD. 

you;  but  I  darsn't  sta.y  l)ut  a  minute." 
She  put  her  ear  to  the  key-hole.  Millicent 
listened  intently  for  the  answer;  but  none 
came.  ''  I  darsn't  stop,"  said  the  woman, 
speaking  again.  "  Jim,  I  wish  I  could  give 
you  something  to  eat ;  but  mistress  keeps 
everything   locked.     You   must   be   hungry." 

Jim  made  no  answer.  A '  slight  stir  on 
Millicent's  part  rustled  a  dead  leaf  under 
her  dress.  Susan  started,  and  ran  lightly 
toward    the    house. 

"  I,  too,  may  be  missed,"  thought  Milli- 
cent; and  she  judged  it  best  to  turn  her 
steps   back   to   the   veranda. 


CHAPTER    X. 

SALE    OF   SUSAN'S   HUSBAND. 

POOR    Jim's    hungry    state    was    the    first 
thought  that  came  into  Millicent's  mind 
in   the    morning,   as    she  unclosed    her  eyes 
from    the     sound,     refreshing     slumbers     of 
youth.     The    sun  was  shining   brightly,  and 
she    hurried    through  her  toilet,  stopping  to 
throw   a   glance   out   of  her  window   at  the 
line    of  out-buildings,  one    of  which^   to    her 
quickened  sight,  covered  a  scene  of  wretch- 
edness  and   misery.      As    she   lingered,   her 
eyes    fell     suddenly    upon    a     group    below 
that   riveted   her   attention,   and   turned   her 
thoughts   into    a   fresh    channel.      The    fore- 
most   figure    was    Susan,    who    stood    with 
her  face   covered  with  her  hands,  her  form"^ 
apparently    shaking   with    sobs,    while    close 

77 


78  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

beside  lier  was  a  young,  sturdy-looking  mu- 
latto, whose  face  expressed  the  acnic  of 
silent  wretchedness.  A  few  paces  off,  the 
baby  was  lying  upon  the  wet  grass,  quite 
unnoticed  by  either  of  the  couple  in  their 
preoccupation. 

Millicent  leaned  forward,  trying  to  com- 
prehend the  scene ;  but  the  distance  pre- 
vented the  words,  if  any  were  spoken,  from 
reaching  her  ears.  The  breakfast-bell  called 
her  away.  She  hurried  to  give  the  finish- 
ing touches  to  her  hair,  and  went  down. 
She  met  Adele  coming  in  from  the  garden 
as  she  reached  the  foot  of  the  staircase. 

"What  is  the  matter  with  Susan,  Adele?" 
.she  asked,  a  fear  that  Mrs.  Leeson  had  dis- 
covered the  girl's  visit  of  tiie  past  night, 
and  tliat  it  had  taken  place  contrary  to 
some    direct    orders,    creeping    over   her. 

"  Mr.  Bennet  has  sold  Sam,  Susan's  hus- 
band,"  replied   Adele. 

This,  then,  was  the  explanation.  Milli- 
cent pitied  the  poor  girl  with  all  her  heart. 

"Why    didn't    your    brother    buy    him?" 


SALE  OF  Susan's  husband.  79 

asked  Millicent.  ''  Where  are  they  going  to 
take   him?" 

'^  Fred,  has  as  many  negroes  as  he 
want?,"  said  Adele,  answering  the  first 
question,  with  a  look  of  surprise.  ''The 
trader  who  lias  bought  him  will  take  him 
off  to  Georgia,  mamma  says.  The  bargain 
is  agreed  upon,  but  isn't  finished.  If  it 
was,  Sam  wouldn't  have  had  liberty  to  come 
here.  He  found  out  somehow  that  his  mas- 
ter  was   about   to    sell   him." 

Millicent  went  on  to  the  breakfast-room 
with  her  charge.  The  fresh  rolls,  the 
dainty  buckwheats,  and  amber-hued  coffee 
had  at  no  time  worn  a  less  tempting  ap- 
pearance. Only  a  stone's  throw  from  this 
sunshiny  apartment  and  these  cheerful  faces 
two  poor  human  hearts  were  nearly  break- 
ing. 

"  Susan  is  in  a  great  way  about  Sam 
this  morning,"  remarked  Mrs.  Leeson,  tak- 
ing up  one  or  two  ordinary  topics  of  con- 
versation.    "  Mr.    Bennet   has    sold   him." 

"  Ah  !  Who  is  the  purchaser  ? "  asked 
Frederick. 


80  MILLTCEXT   HALFORD. 

"  A  Georgian  trader,  I  believe,  who  came 
along  a  day  or  two  ago.  He  has  been 
stopping  at  Hildreth's,  —  over  to  tlie  tavern. 
Sam  found  it  out  this  morning,  and  ran 
over   to   tell    Susan." 

"  It's  a  hard  case,"  said  Mr.  Leeson,  de- 
liberatel}^  helping  himself  to  a  fresh  roll. 
'^  I  wouldn't  part  with  one  of  my  slaves 
on  any  account ;  I  go  upon  principle  in 
the   matter." 

Mrs.  Leeson  glanced  at  her  niece's  plate, 
the  contents  of  which  remained  nearly  un- 
'touched. 

"You  seem  to  have  quite  lost  your  ap- 
petite,   Millicent,"    she    said. 

^'  I   am   not   feeling   very   well,   ma'am." 

"  A  turn  in  the  fresh  air  will  do  you 
good.  Adele's  lessons  can  wait  for  an 
hour." 

They  were  leaving  the  table.  Millicent 
seized  upon  the  permission  to  go  out  on 
the  veranda.  The  morning  air  was  cool 
and  sweet.  She  wondered  if  Susan  was 
still  lingering   by  the  out-buildings.     A  few 


SALE  OF  Susan's  husband.  81 

steps  farther  satisfied  her  that  the  mourn- 
ful parting  was  over.  Susan  was  not  to 
be  seen  on  the  spot  where  she  had  watched 
her  from  her  window.  She  had  gone  in 
w^ith   her    child. 

A  little  later,  Miss  Augusta  Leeson  came 
out  in  her  riding-dress,  a  pair  of  horses 
making  their  appearance  from  the  stable  in 
the  care  of  black  Joe.  Her  cousin  assisted 
her  into  her  saddle,  and  springing  into  his, 
the  couple  were  soon  cantering  down  the 
avenue. 

"  How  gracefully  she  rides ! "  thought 
Millicent,   following   them  with   her   eyes. 

She  went  back  into  the  house,  the  hour 
Mrs.  Leeson  had  given  her  having  nearly 
expired.  She  must  open  Adcle's  lessons, 
however  wavering  the  attention  she  might 
be  able  to  fix  upon  them.  She  did  not 
catch  a  glimpse  of  poor  Susan  until  even- 
ing; then  she  found  her  in  the  kitchen 
to  which  an  errand  for  Mrs.  Leeson  took 
her.  It  was  a  message  the  lady  had  for- 
gotten to  give  her  cook,  and  which,  de- 
7 


82  MILLICEXT    HALrOIiD. 

tained  by  the  sudden  appearance  of  com- 
pany, a  couple  of  visitors  from  tlie  neigh- 
borhood,   she    intrusted    to    her    niece. 

Susan  was  sitting  at  the  table  at  her 
sewing,  precisely  in  the  same  position  as 
on  the  previous  niglit ;  but  the  great 
change  in  her  face  from  its  habitually  wea- 
ried expression  to  a  sullen  despair  told  the 
story    of  suffering   beneath. 

Millicent  lingered  when  she  had  done  her 
errand  to  Lizzie.  She  wondered  if  Susan's 
husband  had  already  gone,  if  they  had  no 
hope  of  meeting  again.  She  glanced  at  tlie 
child,  who  lay  sleeping  soundly  on  a  cush- 
ion  at   its    mother^s    feet. 

"Sam  went  dis  morning,"  whispered  Liz- 
zie, interpreting  her  look.  ''  De  trader  took 
him   off  wid    de    rest." 

Low  as  were  the  tones  of  the  commu- 
nication, they  seemed  to  reach  Susan  in 
her  distant  corner  of  the  room ;  for  her 
work  slipped  from  her  hands,  and  she  burst 
into  a  tempest  of  convulsive  sobs,  such  as 
had   wrung    her   frame    in    the   morning. 


SALE  OF  SUSAN'S  HUSBAND.        83 

"Now  Ts  done  de  mischief  1"  exclaimed 
LizziO;  with  a  friglitened  look,  the  glass 
dish  which  she  held  in  her  hand  slipping 
to  the  floor  and  parting  in  a  dozen  frag- 
ments. ^'  Oh,  what  will  missus  say  ? ''  her 
eyes    riveted   on  the   pieces. 

"  Let  her  alone,"  said  Dinah,  Mrs.  Lee- 
son's  maid,  who  had  come  in  unobserved. 
''  It  will  do  her  good,  poor  thing !  She 
hasn't  eat  a  morsel  to-da}^,  only  sat  tink- 
ing.     Let   her   hab.  her   cry   out." 

''It's  been  upon  me  for  a  week,"  mur- 
mured Susan,  between  her  sobs.  ''  I've  felt 
it  com  in'  on.  I  knowed  it  was  some  great 
trouble  ;  but  I  didn't  tink  ob  dis.  I  didn't 
tink  Mr.  Bennet  would  eber  sell  Sam ! 
What  was  we  brought  into  de  world  for, 
I  wonder?  God  wasn't  good  to  put  us 
here  ! " 

''Don't  talk  so,  honey,"  said  Lizzie,  put- 
ting her  arms  round  her.  "  Tink  what 
Aunt  Phillis  said.  We  mustn't  question 
God.     He    do    eberyting   best,    ef  we    can't 


84  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

"  You  ncber  liad  such  trouble,  Lizzie," 
said  Susan,  bending  her  face  down  upon 
her  hands.  "  Ef  you  liad,  your  heart  would 
break.     You    don't   know   what   it   is." 

The  child,  wakened  suddenly  by  its  moth- 
er's sobs,  had  begun  to  cry.  Dinah  lifted 
it  from  tlie  floor,  and  gently  forced  it  into 
its   mother's   arms. 

"  Try  to  bear  it  better  for  de  sake  ob 
de  baby.  You  ought  to  tink  dis  is  left  to 
you,"   she    said. 

*'I  wish  it  hab  neber  been  born,"  said 
Susan,  taking  it  in  her  arras,  and  gazing  at 
it  with  a  strange  look.  ''How  do  I  know 
what  it  will  come  to?  No  comfort  to  me 
I    know." 

What  could  either  of  them  reply?  Mil- 
licent  shrank  out  of  the  doorway.  The 
scene  passing  before  her  was  toa  painful 
to  look  upon  longer,  and  she  felt  as  if  in- 
truding  upon   its   sacredness. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

AUGUSTA'S    RETURN. 

AUGUSTA  LEESON  had  fully  decided 
upon  severing  her  engagement  with 
her  cousin  on  the  evening  on  which  she 
had  become  an  accidental  listener  to  his 
conversation  with  his  mother;  but  a  very 
little  reflection  showed  her  that  the  an- 
nouncement could  not  be  made  with  pro- 
priety while  under  the  shelter  of  his  roof. 
It  was  necessary,  too,  that  she  should  first 
acquaint  her  guardian  with  her  intentions, 
and  she  began  to  try  to  think  of  some 
pretext  for  shortening  her  visit.  She  had 
answered"  her  aunt,  in  reply  to  that  lady's 
search  for  information,  that  her  stay  would 
extend  to  the  middle  of  Novembei',  still 
rather  more  than  four  weeks  distant.     How 

85 


86  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

was  this  awkward  avowal  to  be  got  over? 
She  would  write  to  Mr.  Stuart,  her  guar- 
dian, and  solicit  her  recall  home.  She 
did  so  that  evening,  after  she  had  retired 
to  her  chamber,  from  an  apparently  agree- 
able play  at  chess  with  Mr.  Leeson,  and 
well  aware  that  he  wouM  attribute  tliis 
singular  step,  for  which  she  could  cfTer 
no  sufficient  reasons,  to  a  lovers'  quarrel. 
She  stated  that  Mr.  Frederick  Leeson 
would  be  her  escort  upon  her  return,  and 
in  all  probability  spend  some  short  time 
with  them.  The  answer  came,  worded  as 
she  had  anticipated.  Mr.  Stuart  gladly  gave 
consent  to  his  ward's  return,  and  fixed  an 
early  day  for  her  appearance  at  Tudor 
Hall. 

Auofusta  went  down  with  her  letter  to 
her  aunt.  Mrs.  Leeson  heard  the  announce- 
ment with  extreme  surprise.  ^Ir.  Stuart 
gave  no  reason  for  shortening  his  ward's 
visit ;  he  left  the  suggestion  of  probabili- 
ties  to   the  ready  fancy  of  the   young  lad}^ 

"  Mr.    Stuart    may   be   ill,"    observed    Au- 


Augusta's  return.  87 

gusta,  blushing  at  the  ingenious  surmise,  to 
which  the  gentleman's  own  familiar  hand- 
writing gave  the  denial,  ^'  or  Miss  Stuart 
may  be  indisposed.  She  had  a  severe  at- 
tack of  fever  last  summer,  and  her  con- 
stitution is  naturally  delicate.  They  would 
not   wish   to    alarm   me." 

It  was  very  probable.  Mrs.  Leeson's 
sober  face  relaxed,  and  she  bustled  out  to 
tell   Frederick   the   unpleasant   news. 

Augusta  was  eager  to  get  away.  Her 
anxiety  under  the  apparent  circumstances 
was  natural.  She  set  out  on  the  following 
day,  under  the  escort  of  her  cousin.  Her 
aunt  parted  from  her  with  an  affectionate 
farewell.  In  her  heart  she  trusted  that 
their  next  meeting  would  take  place  on 
the  occasion  of  her  summons  to  her  son's 
wedding.  The  young  gentleman  quitted 
his  home  under  the  same  agreeable  im- 
pression, that  a  few  words  with  Augusta 
upon  the  subject,  and  an  interview  with 
Mr.  Stuart,  would  lessen  very  materially 
his   remaining   period   of  waiting. 


88  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

They  found  Mr.  Stuart  and  his  sister  in 
their  usual  health,  to  the  surprise  of  Fred- 
erick, on  reaching  Tudor  Hall,  and  very  lit- 
tle explanation  was  given  of  the  cause  of 
Augusta's  sudden  summons.  But  the  wel- 
come which  greeted  the  young  gentleman 
was  cordial  and  hearty,  and  placing  the 
whole  matter  to  some  whim  of  Augusta's 
guardian,  he  dismissed  his  curiosity  upon 
the   subject. 

The  first  opening  of  the  revelation  which 
was  to  break  upon  him  came  to  Frederick 
in  the  changed  deportment  of  his  betrotned. 
-She  had  always  been  coy,  and  little  dis- 
posed to  affect  his  society,  leaving  herself 
to  be  sought ;  but  now  an  additional  cold- 
ness and  reserve  was  visible  toward  him. 
Lovers'  eyes  are  keen.  Frederick  soon  saw 
that  some  hidden  cause  of  dissatisflxction 
existed  on  the  part  of  his  fiancee.  It 
might  have  seemed  an  unfavorable  moment 
for  opening  the  subject  nearest  his  heart; 
but  he  regarded  it  as  otherwise.  Such  a 
course    would    be    likely    to   bring   out    an 


Augusta's  return.  89 

acknowledgment  of  the  secret  pique  or 
resentment  for  which  he  sought  in  vain 
in  his  own  short-comings  to  find  the  oc- 
casion. 

Augusta  listened  to  him  with  attention. 
It  was  a  glowing  autumn  afternoon,  and 
they  were  alone  on  the  veranda,  where 
they  had  loitered  coming  in  from  the  gar- 
den. Frederick  spoke  with  eloquence  and 
warmth ;  the  most  careless  ear  might  have 
distinguished  his  sincerity.  Augusta  did 
not.  A  cold,  hard  feeling  rankled  in  her 
heart:  she  thought  with  bitterness  of  the 
mortgaged  estate  which  her  fortune  was  to 
free. 

'^  I  am  satisfied  as  the  terms  of  the  en- 
gagement stand,"  she  said,  coldly,  drawing 
away  her  hand ;  "  the  time  was  fixed  with 
your   consent." 

''  I  allowed  others  to  decide  for  us," 
remonstrated  Frederick.  "I  gave  up  to 
the  wishes  of  your  guardian.  It  was  nat- 
ural that  Mr.  Stuart  should  be  unwilling 
to   part   with   you.     I   was   grateful   enough 


90  MILLICENT   IlALFOPiD. 

at  the  time  to  be  thought  wortliy  of  such 
a   treasure    at   all.'' 

"  A  six  months  will  soon  glide  away," 
said  Augusta,  turning  aside  her  face,  while 
her  voice  kept  its  cold,  modulated  tone. 
"  I  am  quite  sure  Mr.  Stuart  has  no  de- 
sire   to    shorten    the  period." 

''Augusta,  what  has  come  between  us?^' 
exclaimed  Frederick,  suddenly  possessing 
himself  of  her  hand.  "You  are  changed 
toward  me.  How  have  I  been  so  unfor- 
tunate  as   to   displease    you  ? " 

"  You  have  not  displeased  me,  Freder- 
ick," said  the  lady,  quietly  releasing  her- 
self. ''  To  what  change  can  you  possibly 
allude?" 

Mr.  Leeson  reflected  for  a  moment.  Cer- 
tainly he  had  nothing  very  tangible  to  com- 
plain of  The  change  of  which  he  spoke 
was  one  rather  to  be  ftlt  than  of  that 
character  which  can  be  expressed  in  words. 

"Mr.  Stuart  was  in  his  library  an  hour 
ago,"  he  said,  quitting  the  last  subject. 
"  With    your   consent   I   will    go    in    to    see 


Augusta's  return.  91 

him.  May  I  tell  him  I  have  your  per- 
mission to  urge  my  wishes  for  an  earlier 
day   for   our   marriage  ?  " 

Augusta  -hesitated ;  the  moment  had 
clearly  arrived  for  the  stating  of  her  pur- 
poses, and  the  distinct  avowal  of  the 
change  in  her  feelings  which  her  lover's 
quick  eyes  had  already  penetrated.  The 
time  had  come ;  but,  for  obvious  reasons, 
she  wished  the  statement  to  proceed  from 
her   guardian. 

Miss  Stuart's  appearance  on  the  veranda 
at  this  instant  made  a  welcome  interrup- 
tion ;  her  afternoon  siesta  ended,  she  had 
come  out  through  the  drawing-room  to  join 
the   young   couple. 

Frederick  soon  effected  his  escape,  and 
Augusta  beard  the  library-door  close  upon 
him,   as   he   disappeared   into   the   halL 


CHAPTER    XII. 

AUGUSTA    AND    MR.    STUAET. 

ON  leaving  the  veranda,  Augusta  was 
summoned  by  a  servant  to  the  library. 
She  obeyed  with  a  nervous  tremor  at  the 
thought  of  confronting  her  cousin  :  but,  to 
her  agreeable  surprise,  her  first  glance,  on 
entering  the  room,  showed  that  he  had 
passed   out. 

Mr.  Stuart  was  alone,  seated  at  his  ta- 
ble, with  a  half-written  letter  lying  at  his 
elbow,  his   pen  still    poised   in   his  stand. 

''  Frederick  has  just  gone  out,"  he  ob- 
served, as  his  ward  took  a  chair  opposite, 
a  faint  glow  of  color,  the  result  of  various 
emotions,  suffusing  her  cheeks.  ^'  He  wishes 
to  shorten  the  period  of  his  engagement 
with  you.  Is  he  right  in  supposing  that 
he   has   your    sanction    to   his   request  ? '' 

92 


AUGUSTA   AND   MR.   STUART.  93 

"Mr.  Stuart,"  —  Augusta's  voice  wavered 
a  little  through  the  intensity  of  her  inter- 
est in  replying,  —  "were  you  acquainted, 
when  you  gave  your  consent  to  my  mar- 
riage with  Mr.  Leeson,  with  the  fact  that 
his   property   was   largely    mortgaged?" 

"  I  was  not,  my  dear  !  "  Mr.  Stuart  looked 
extremely  surprised.  "How  did  you  gain 
such   a   piece   of  information?" 

"Quite  accidentally,  sir,"  said  Augusta, 
dropping  her  eyes ;  "  but  my  information 
is  of  a  character  which  leaves  no  doubt 
upon   the    subject." 

Mr.  Stuart  reflected.  "I  had  no  suspi- 
cions of  this,"  he  said,  musingly.  "  Freder- 
ick should  have  shown  us  more  frankness." 

"You  see,"  said  Augusta,  with  a  little 
covert  bitterness,  "his  reasons  for  shorten- 
ing his    engagement." 

"I  do  not  know,  Augusta,"  said  Mr. 
Stuart,  thoughtfully.  "Frederick  is  an  hon- 
orable man.  I  have  known  his  character 
from  his  boyhood;  he  is  incapable  of  a 
mean   or   dishonorable   action.     His   pride,  a 


94  MILLTCEXT   IIALFOHD. 

mistaken  motive,  must  have  held  him  si- 
lent. He  would  never  be  the  man  to  woo 
a  woman  solely  lor  the  ftjrtune  she  could 
bring    him." 

"Whatever  the  motive  mav  be,"  returned 
Augusta,  'Mie  has  lost  my  confidence.  His 
concealment  virtually  sets  our  engagement 
at   an    end." 

"  You  speak  under  the  influence  of  re- 
sentment, my  dear,"  observed  Mr.  Stuart. 
''  AVait,  and  let  us  consider  this  matter. 
But,  first,  are  you  sure  the  information 
you    have    obtained    is    perfectly    reliable?" 

"I  had  the  affirmation  from  his  own  lips, 
in  a  private  conversation  with  his  mother, 
to  which  I  was  an  unintentional  listener," 
said  Augusta.  "  Mrs.  Leeson  urged  upon 
him  this  step  which  he  has  just  taken. 
The  mortgage  would  fall  due  in  January. 
By  entering  into  possession  of  my  fortune, 
he   would    obtain    the   means   to  meet  it." 

Mr.  Stuart  sat  silent.  One  of  the  most 
painful  experiences  which  can  ever  come  to 
us   in   life   is   to   learn   the  unworthiness   of 


AUGUSTA   AND    MR.    STUART.  95 

one  in  whom  we  have  believed  and  trusted. 
Viewed  from  every  point,  Mr.  Leeson  had 
acted  wrongly  in  withholding  the  fact  of 
his  serious  involvements  from  his  betrothed. 

^'  Are  you  aware,  Augusta,"  resumed  Mr. 
Stuart,  presently,  ''  that  this  match  with 
your  cousin  received  your  late  father's  ap- 
proval;  that  it  was,  in  reality,  the  object 
of  his  dearest  wishes,  and  that  his  late 
will,  dated  but  a  few  weeks  prior  to  his 
death,  contained  a  clause  to  favor  this  event, 
if  it  should  ever  come  within  the  range  of 
possibility  ?  " 

"  I  was  not,"  said  Augusta,  in  some  sur- 
prise. "  What  is  the  clause  to  which  you 
allude,    Mr.    Stuart?" 

"  It  is  simply  this :  in  appointing  me 
your  guardian,  he  left  the  disposal  of  your 
hand  at  my  bestowal  in  a  measure.  If  you 
were  to  many  without  my  consent,-  you 
were  to  forfeit  the  larger  part  of  your  for- 
tune." 

"  At  whose  suggestion  was  this  clause 
added?"   asked   Augusta,  with    rising  color. 


96  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

"By  no  one's  suggestion,  my  dear.  Your 
father  took  no  advice  from  lii.s  friends  in 
the    ordering   of  his    will." 

''  I  am  to  understand  that  he  left  a  writ- 
ten statement  of  his  desire  that  I  should 
marry    Frederick  ?  " 

"  By  no  means  !  The  wish  was  expressed 
to  me,  as  his  nearest  and  oldest  friend,  to 
whose  care  he  was  about  to  leave  his  or- 
phan daugliter.  He  knew  and  liked  Fred- 
erick, then  a  fine,  manly  boy  of  sixteen, 
and  his  evident  preference  for  you,  even 
at  thaf  early  age,  might  naturally  have 
suggested  the  hope  which  he  did  entertain 
of  a  future  attachment.  It  was  natural  that 
your  father  should  wish  to  see  his  property 
descend   to   one    of  his    own   name." 

It  was  Augusta's  turn  to  become  silent. 
Where  were  the  glowing  hopes  w^hich  she 
had  brooded  over  only  an  hour  ago  ?  The 
dearest  thought  of  her  heart  in  the  disso- 
lution of  this  engagement,  and  the  opening 
of  new  prospects,  had  been  the  fortune 
which    she  would   be  able   to   brino;   to   her 


AUGUSTA   AND   MR.    STUART.  97 

lover,  lifting  him  above  the  straitnesses  and 
cares   of  his    daily   profession. 

"  You  will  consider  this  matter,  Augusta," 
observed  Mr.  Stuart,  quite  recovered  from 
his  first  surprise  over  the  discovery,  and 
coming  round  plainly  to  the  side  of  his  fa- 
vorite. '^  Frederick  has  acted  unwisely  in 
his  concealment,  but  evidently  from  a  mo- 
tive of  false  pride.  I  believe  his  attach- 
ment for  you  to  be  sincere,  above  the  ad- 
vantages to  be  reaped  by  his  marriage. 
Take  my  advice,  as  it  would  be  given 
were  you  my  own  daughter,  and  pardon 
his   disingenuousness." 

Would  Mr.  Stuart  really  have  given  such 
counsel  to  a  child  of  his  own?  Augusta 
doubted.  Yet  the  old  gentleman  was  sin- 
cere in  striving  to  carry  out  what  he 
firmly  believed  would  stilh  have  been  the 
wishes    of  his   old    friend. 

"  I  cannot,"  said  the  young  lady,  firmly ; 
"it  is  impossible  for  me  to  fulfil  my  en- 
gagement with  Mr.  Leeson  after  this  dis- 
covery. I  have  not  acted  hastily ;  it  is 
7 


98  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

quite  tliree  weeks  since  I  gained  the  in- 
formation. I  Lave  waited  day  by  day  for 
an  opportunity  to  break  it  to  you.  My 
mind  is  fully  made  up.  Under  no  circum- 
stances   will    I    marry    Frederick  ! " 

Mr.  Stuart  shook  his  head.  lie  had  seen 
ladies  quite  as  positive  before,  who,  when 
the  occasion  came,  wavered  in  their  deter- 
minations. A  young  girl's  resentment  was 
natural  under  such  circumstances.  She 
could  not  be  expected  to  retain  faith  in 
her  lover,  where  the  faintest  shadow  of 
mercenary  motives    rested   upon    his    suit. 

"  I  shall  not  allow  you  to  decide  the 
matter  at  once,  Augusta,"  he  said,  speak- 
ing up.  ^'  As  your  guardian,  my  advice  is 
entitled  to  some  consideration.  I  will  with- 
draw my  conditional  consent  to  Freder- 
ick fur  the  sltf)rtening  of  the  engage- 
ment, and  when  April  comes  round,  you 
will  know  more  fully  your  state  of  mind, 
Until  then,  I  must  desire  of  you  a  com- 
plete   silence   upon    your   discovery." 

^' If  he  only  knew,"  thouo^ht  Auji^usta ;  but 
she    wisely    kept   silent. 


AUGUSTA   AND    MR.    STUART.  99 

"I  will  try  to  obey  yon,  Mr.  Stuart/' 
she  said,  rising ;  "  at  least,  while  Mr.  Lee- 
son  remains  nncler  your  roof,  I  trust  I 
shall  not  fail  toward  him  in  the  courte- 
sies   due    to   a    guest." 

''  Foolish  child  ! "  thought  the  old  gentle- 
man, looking  after  her  as  she  swept  out 
with  the  haughty  step  of  a  queen ;  "  and 
yet  I  cannot  blame  her.  What  could 
have  drawn  Frederick  into  such  an  un- 
worthy concealment?  He  should  have 
been   frank   with   us." 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

-THE    DREAM. 

MR.  LEESOX'S  visit  to  Tudor  Hall  came 
suddenly  to  an  end.  He  was  sum- 
moned home  by  the  alarming  illness  of  his 
mother.  The  letter  came  upon  the  even- 
ing of  the  day  on  which  the  interview 
we  have  mentioned  with  ^Ir.  Stuart  took 
place,  and  in  the  confusion  and  anxiety 
attending  this  unwelcome  piece  of  news, 
the  subject  was  for  the  time  dismissed  from 
his  thoughts.  His  mothei-'s  complaint  was 
fever,  —  a  malignant  typlius,  —  which  might 
run  a  long  course,  or  terminate  fatally  in 
a  few  days.  Millicent  v/rote  the  short, 
hurried  note  of  recall,  giving  him  the  doc- 
tor's opinion  that  the  case  was  one  which 
presented   an    alarming   appearance. 

100 


THE   DREAM.  101 

Mr.  Leeson  hurried  away  by  the  morn- 
ing train,  the  carriage  taking  him  over  to 
the  station  at  daybreak.  He  had  parted 
from  Augusta  on  the  evening  before  in 
the  expectation  of  seeing  her  in  the  morn- 
ing; but  the  carriage  came  round  from 
the  stable  before  the  young  lady  made  her 
appearance  from  her  chamber,  and  a  hasty 
examination  of  his  watch  showed  him  that 
a  moment's  delay  might  cause  him  to  lose 
the  train.  He  left  his  adieus  then  with 
Miss  Stuart,  who  had  kindly  presided  at 
his  scarcely-tasted  breakfast,  and  Avith  a 
feeling  of  disappointment  which  he  would 
have  been  unwilling  to  acknowledge  to 
himself,  set  out  on  his  lonesome  drive  in 
the  gray,  misty  dawn.  The  thick  white 
fog  veiled  every  object  on  the  road,  and 
drawing  back  from  the  window,  he  leaned 
against  the  carriage,  forced  back  into  the 
company  of  his  own  thoughts.  Only  a 
little  day  before,  —  it  seemed  but  yester- 
day, —  he  had  parted  from  his  mother, 
leaving  her   in   the   fulness   of  health ;   now 


102  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

he  was  Lurrying  to  her  death-bed  1  ITuw 
bhiid  we  all  are  to  the  hours  wliich  are 
close    upon   us,  —  how    mercifully    blind! 

It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  the 
last  train  halted  at  the  familiar  station,  and 
Frederick  got  out,  quickly  distinguishing  by 
the  glitter  of  the  stars  overhead  the  car- 
riage   drawn  up    by  the  platform. 

Jim  was  on  his  perch,  straining  his  e3'es 
in  the  dim  starlight,  as  the  puffing  train 
put   off,   for   a    glimpse    of  his   master. 

"  How  is  my  mother,  Jim  ? "  asked  Fred- 
erick,  stepping   up    to    the    carriage. 

'^  Missus  be  alive,  massa ;  but  de  doctor 
he    say   she   be    very   bad." 

She  was  living !  Frederick  got  in  with 
an  order  for  rapid  driving,  and  in  a  very 
few  moments  found  himself  at  the  house. 
A  broad  light  streamed  out  as  usual  from 
the  kitchen ;  but  the  rest  of  the  house, 
under    its    thick    curtains,   lay    in    darkness. 

It  was  a  gloomy  coming  home,  passing 
into  the  silent  hall,  no  one  to  welcome 
him.     He   hesitated   at   the  staircase   in   the 


THE   DREAM.  103 

act  of  ascending  to  the  door  of  his  moth- 
er's   chamber.  ' 

Dinah  came  out  from  the  sitting-room  to 
tell  him  in  a  low  voice  that  supper  was 
waiting  him  in  the  dining-room,  and  had 
been   waiting   his    arrival  for   the  last   hour. 

"I  will  go  up  to  see  my  mother  first, 
Dinah,"  he  said.  "  Is  she  conscious? 
When   did   the   doctor   go  ? " 

"  He  just  went,  sir.  Mistress  is  more 
herself  to-night;  but  she  has  been  lying 
in   a  kind    of  stupor   most   of  de   day." 

Frederick  went  up.  His  mother's  cham- 
ber and  the  smaller  room  which  she  was 
wont  to  appropriate  as  a  dressing-room  lay 
to  the  right.  He  stepped  into  the  last, 
the  door  of  which  stood  ajar.  The  room 
beyond,  dimly-lighted  by  a  night-lamp,  lay 
in  stillness.  He  hesitated  to  go  on ;  but 
his  light  footfall  had  caught  the  ear  of  the 
watcher  inside,  and  she  stepped  out.  It 
was   his   Cousin   Millicent. 

"  I  am  so  glad  you  have  come,  Mr.  Fred- 
erick,"   she     said,    in    a    whisper.      "  Your 


104  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

mother  is  very  sick.  I  took  the  liberty 
of  writing   for   you." 

"  Then  my  recall  home  was  not  by  my 
mother's   direction  ?  " 

"  Xo ;  she  has  not  been  conscious  these 
two  or  tliree  clays,  —  not  until  to-night.  I 
hope    I    did    riglit   in   writing  you  ? " 

"  You  did."  He  took  a  step  forward. 
"  Shall    I    disturb    her   by    coming    in  ? " 

Millicent  hesitated.  "  I  believe  she  has 
fallen  asleep,"  she  said,  in  a  whisper.  ''  The 
doctor  has  just  gone  out.  lie  said  she 
must  be  kept  very  quiet.  I  did  not  tell 
her   you    were    expected   to-night." 

Frederick    turned   and    went   out. 

^'  Where  is  Adole  ? "  he  asked,  as  he 
seated  himself  at  the  supper-table,  where 
Rose   proceeded   to    wait   upon   him. 

"  She  be  gone  off  to  a  neighbor's.  Miss 
Halford   sent   her   away." 

To  keep  her  out  of  any  danger  of  con- 
tagion, Millicent  had  shown  a  prudent  fore- 
thought.    Frederick   approved    the    step. 

The     table    looked     very    lonesome    with 


THE   DREAM.  105 

these  vacant  places.  He  soon  hurried 
through  his  meal,  and  went  back  to  the 
sitting-room.  Here  he  found  a  fire  had 
been  kindled  in  the  grate,  probably  owing 
to  Dinah's  forethouglit,  and  the  room  had 
been  carefully  dusted  and  set  to  rights. 
He  took  up  a  book,  which  he  soon 
laid  down,  unable  to  fix  his  thoughts  up- 
on its  contents.  If  his  mother's  illness 
was  of  so  dangerous  a  character,  should 
not  James  be  sent  for  ?  Certainly  he 
should  be  written  to.  He  got  out  pen 
and  paper,  with  this  recollection,  and 
penned  a  note  to  his  brother.  He  would 
wait  until  the  morning  for  the  doctor's  ap- 
pearance to  add  a  postscript,  he  thought, 
as  he  folded  it,  and  laid  it  beside  an  en- 
velope. He  went  back  to  his  arm-chair 
by  the  grate,  which  presented  a  mass  of 
glowing  crimson  coals.  The  stillness  and 
solitude  of  the  room  were  oppressive ;  he 
tried  to  turn  his  thoughts  from  his  moth- 
er's sick-chamber  and  the  pale,  slender  lit- 
tle  figure   he   had   seen    watching    there   in 


106  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

the  commencement  of  the  evening.  Ilis 
own  affairs  presented  a  subject  serious 
enough  for  his  consideration  :  but  his  easy, 
indolent  mind  naturally  turned  from  their 
contemplation.  By  and  by  a  light  slum- 
ber crept  over  him  as  his  head  sank 
against  the  arm  of  his  chair,  and  the 
troubled  present  was  soon  forgotten  in  a 
deep   and   full   repose. 

The  room  was  filled  with  the  gray  day- 
dawn  when  he  awoke  with  a  start,  and 
put  his  hands  to  his  temples  to  clear 
away  the  remembrance  of  a  painful  dream. 
He  cast  his  eyes  around  the  room.  Its 
deep-green  carpet,  its  chairs,  its  tables,  and 
low,  French  windows,  —  all  were  real;  yet 
a  moment  before  he  had  been  standing  in 
a  wide,  open  plain,  amidst  the  smoke  and 
confusion  of  battle,  with  dying  forms  around 
him,  and  his  own  brother  at  his  feet,  bleed- 
ing from  a  ghastly  wound  in  his  breast. 
Some  moments  passed  before  he  could 
shake  off  the  liallucination,  the  superstitious 
awe,  which  the  vivid  scene  had  flung  over 
his   spirits. 


THE  DREAM.  107 

"A  frightful ,  niglitmare  !  *'  he  murmured 
aloud,  going  to  the  window,  and  throwing 
up  the  sash.  "  It  is  not  wonderful,  this 
dream,"  he  mused,  ''  after  Mr.  Stuart's  ear- 
nest talk.  He  is  wrong,  —  he  is  entirely 
wrong ;  it  never  can  come  to  arms  I  The 
North   will   compromise   first." 

The  roll  of  a  gig  up  the  avenue  cauglit 
his  ear,  as  he  still  stood  by  the  open  win- 
dow. The  white  fog  veiled  every  object 
within  a  hundred  yards;  but  the  rumble 
of  the  vehicle  w^as  distinct  over  the  frozen 
ground. 

The  servants  were  not  yet  stirring,  and 
he  went  himself  to  the  door  to  admit  the 
visitor.  It  proved  to  be  the  doctor  as  he 
had  anticipated.  Millicent,  who  had  caught 
the  same  sounds  in  the  hush  of  the  sick 
woman's  chamber,  stole  down  the  staircase 
before  the  physician  had  quite  crossed  the 
threshold.  She  looked  surprised  to  see 
Frederick  up,  and  in  the  dress  of  the  past 
night,  which  showed  he  had  not  souglit 
his   bed. 


108  MILLTCENT   HALFORD. 

Mrs.  Leeson  had  rested  some,  she  said 
in  answer  to  the  inquiries  put  to  her,  and 
was   now   awake   and   quite    rational. 

''  A  fiivorable  symptom,"  commented  the 
doctor,  preparing  to  go  up,  and  Frederick 
turned  back,  to  reconsider  the  necessity  of 
despatching   his   letter   to    his    brother. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

SALE  OF  PART  OF  THE  SLAVES. 

MRS.  LEESON  did  not  die.  It  was  a 
hard  struggle  between  life  and  death; 
but  her  naturally  good  constitution  tri- 
umphed, and,  by  the  middle  of  December, 
she  was  able  to  make  her  first  appearance 
in  the  family  sitting-room.  Her  long  and 
dangerous  sickness  had  wrought  one  impor- 
tant change  in  her  character  ;  it  had 
aroused  in  the  depths  of  her  narrow 
heart  a  human  interest  in  her  orphan 
niece.  The  young  girl  had  devoted  her- 
self to  her  in  her  sickness,  had  shared  the 
labors  of  the  hired  nurse,  whom  Frederick 
had  procured  immediately  after  his  arrival, 
and  had  shown  a  degree  of  thought  in  the 
commencement,   and    a    fearlessness    of   the 

109 


110  .MILLICENT    nALFORD. 

contagion,  little  to  be  expected  in  one  so 
yonng. 

^*  Millicent  has  done  well,''  said  Mrs.  Lee- 
son  to  her  son,  in  one  of  these  softened 
days  of  convalescence.  '^  I  shall  never  for- 
get  the   obligations    I   owe    her." 

Frederick  did  not  reply  ;  the  book  he 
had  been  reading  lay  open  in  his  hantj ; 
but  the  absent  light  in  his  clear  gray  eyes 
showed  that  his  thoughts  were  far  away 
from  the  page  before  hiui.  His  mother 
looked   up,   attracted   by   his   preoccupation. 

"  You  have  not  told  me,  Frederick,"  she 
said,  suddenly,  "  of  your  success  with  Au- 
gusta ;  we  talked  the  matter  over  before 
you    went   to   Virginia." 

"Augusta  declines  to  shorten  the  term 
of  our  engagement,"  said  Mr.  Leeson,  in 
a  cold  tone ;  ''  such  is  Mr.  Stuart's  an- 
nouncement. I  have  had  no  letter  from 
my   cousin  herself  since   my   return." 

An  uneasy  expression  came  upon  his 
mother's   face. 

"  Her  silence  is  singular,"  she   said.     ''  To 


SALE  OF  PART  OF  THE  SLAVES.     Ill 

what  do  you  attribute  it?  Have  you  had 
a   lovers'    quarrel,   Frederick?" 

"  No,  madam ;  I  am  as  much  at  a  loss 
for  the  cause  of  her  singular  conduct  as 
yourself  I  have  written  her  twice  under 
the  impression  my  first  letter  had  miscar- 
ried." 

Mrs.  Leeson  looked  really  troubled.  "It 
is  quite  six  weeks  since  you  left  Tudor 
Hall/'    she   observed. 

*'  Quite   that  length  of  time,  I  believe." 

"  Why  not  write  to  Mr.  Stuart  for  an 
explanation  ?  " 

Frederick  colored  slightly.  "  I  have 
thought  of  the  propriety  of  doing  so; 
but  it  is  merely  possible  that  accident 
may  have  led  to  this  delay.  I  Avill  give 
her   a   farther    opportunity   for   replying." 

"  There  is  this  matter  of  the  mortgage," 
resumed  his  mother ;  "  it  will  soon  fall  due. 
Have  you  settled  in  what  way  to  dispose 
of  it?" 

"I  have  seen  Bennet,  and,  contrary  to 
my  expectations,  he  quite  declines  to  sub- 
mit  to   any    delay  in   the   payment." 


112  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

^'  As  I  feared/'  observed  his  mother,  Avith 
a  sigh.  "By  wliat  means  can  you  raise 
the    necessary    sum?" 

"  A  part  I  can  procure  as  a  loan,"  re- 
phed  Frederick.  "Mr.  Leavitt  has  promised 
to  accommodate  me  ;  but  the  whole  amount 
is  large."  He  put  his  hand  to  his  temples. 
Some  uneasy  suggestion  plainly  pressed 
upon   him. 

"  I  see  but  one  wa}-,"  observed  his 
mother,  speaking  up  with  her  straightfor- 
ward, business  tact,  —  "some  of  our  people 
must   be    sold." 

"I  have  thought  of  the  necessity,"  said 
Frederick :  "  but  I  cannot  ea:>ily  make  up 
my  mind  to  it.  It  is  contrarj^  to  my  prin- 
ciples." 

"There  is  no  help  for  it,"  said  Mrs.  Lee- 
son.  "Susan  must  go,  —  and  who  else  can 
be   best   spared?" 

"I  do  not  know,"  said  Frederick;  "Joe 
and   Harry,  I    suppose." 

"  They  will  each  bring  a  good  price  in 
the  market,"  observed  Mrs.  Leeson.  "  How 
large   a   sum    will   Leavitt   loan   you?" 


SALE  OF  PART  OF  THE  SLAVES.     113 

"  The  whole  amount  of  the  mortgage, 
you  may  remember,  is  seven  thousand, 
not  a  large  sum  to  any  one  with  means 
to  cover  it;  but  a  very  large  amount  to 
any  one  in  my  position.  Leavitt  will  loan 
me  four  thousand  six  hundred.  The  re- 
mainder  I   have   no    way    of  raising." 

"Except  on  the  negroes/'  added  Mrs. 
Leeson. 

"  Yes,"    said   her   son,    slowly. 

"Johnston  is  over  to  the  tavern  to-night," 
observed  his  mother.  "  I  heard  Miss  Ben- 
net  say  so  an  hour  ago ;  she  came  in  to 
see  me.  He  has  been  there  two  or  three 
days.  Would  it  not  be  as  well  to  see  him 
at   once?     He   may  start   to-morrow." 

"Yes,"  said  Frederick,  laying  down  his 
book.  His  mind  was  quite  made  up.  Ne- 
cessity pressed  him  to  action.  '^  I  will 
send  Jim  over  for  him."  He  went  to  the 
door  and  rang  the  bell.  Kose  answered  it. 
"'  Send  Jim  here,"  he  said.  The  girl  went 
out.  "  I  cannot  do  any  better,"  said  Fred- 
erick, coming  back  to  his  chair.  "  I  always 
8 


114  MILLICENT   riALFORD. 

said  that  I  would  never  part  with  any  of 
my  slaves ;  but  the  emergencies  of  the  case 
leave    no    choice." 

Johnston,  the  trader,  made  his  appearance 
in  rather  more  than  an  hour  after  the  mes- 
sage reached  him  from  Mr.  Leeson.  Fred- 
erick was  still  in  the  sitting-room.  His 
mother  had  gone  back  to  her  chamber. 
He  motioned  his  visitor  to  a  chair,  with- 
out tlie  ceremony  of  rising,  and  took  a 
little  delay  before  he  proceeded  to  open 
the   business. 

"You  want  to  make  a  trade,  sir,  I  sup- 
pose?" observed  Johnston,  leaning  back  in 
his  chair.  ''  Got  some  likely  hands  to  dis- 
pose  of?" 

"I  have  two  boys  and  a  girl."  c  bserved 
Frederick,  conquering  his  repugnance  to 
the  last  question,  "  which  I  may  sell  upon 
fl\ir    terms." 

'^  What's   their   age    and    condition,    sir?" 

"  The  eldest,  Joe,  is  about  eight-and- 
twenty,  —  a  good  field  hand,  but  mostly 
used   in   my  employ  as  a  stable-boy ;    Harry 


SALE  "OF  PART  OF  THE  SLAVES.     115 

is  twenty-four,  a  likely  field  hand;  both 
are  strong,  muscular  fellows.  The  woman 
is  my  mother's  laundress,  a  very  capable 
girl." 

''Black   or   mulatto,  —  the    woman?" 
"A   light  mulatto.     She  might  easily  pass 
as   white." 

"  Would  do  for  a  fancy  girl,  I  suppose  ?  " 
'^  Quite    likely."      Mr.    Leeson    made    the 
answer  in   a   business-like   way. 

"I  never  buy  an  article  without  seeing 
it,"  observed  the  trader.  ''  Suppose  you 
bring  them  forward,  Mr.  Leeson,  and  then 
we  will  see  how  nearly  we  can  agree  upon 
the  prices.  I  have  rather  a  large  cofHe  on 
my  hands  at  present.  Niggers  are  cheap 
just  now;  that  prospect  of  trouble  with 
the   North   puts  'em   down." 

Mr.  Leeson  wholl}^  disbelieved  this  -last 
assertion ;  but  he  proceeded  to  ring  the 
bell,  and  told  Rose  to  send-  Susan  in  with 
a  bottle  of  brandy  and  a  couple  of  glasses. 
Rose  disappeared,  sending  an  uneasy  glance 
at   the   trader. 


116  MHXICEXT   HALFORD. 

Susan  shortly  made  licr  appearance,  —  a 
tall,  handsome  woman,  in  a  neat  dress  and 
collar,  whose  plainness  set  off  her  glossy 
black  hair  and  pale,  creamy  complexion  to 
advantage. 

'^A  handsome  wench,*'  observed  Johnston, 
drawing  up  his  cliair  to  the  table  to  par- 
take of  the  refreshment,  by  an  invitation 
from  his  host,  "  but  suUen-looking.  I'll  give 
you  a  cool  eight  hundred  for  her  alone ; 
that's   as   much    as    she's   worth." 

"  I  shall  not  part  with  her  for  that," 
said  Frederick,  shaking  his  head;  ''she  is 
worth  ten  hundred  at  the  smallest  reckon- 
ing ;  she  has  a  little  child,  too,  rather 
more    than  a   year   old." 

"A  child  is  of  no  account  at  that  age," 
observed  the  trader,  —  ''only  a  trouble,  tak- 
ing up  a  woman's  time .  to  look  after. 
Come,  Mr.  Leeson,  I'll  give  you  eight  hun- 
dred  and    fifty,  and    call    that   a   fair   offer." 

"  I  shall  not  part  with  Susan  for  less 
than  ten  hundred,"  said  Frederick,  de- 
cidedly ;    "  only    the    most    pressing    neces- 


SALE  OF  PART  OF  THE  SLAVES     HT 

sity   would    induce    me    to    part  with    any 
of  my    slaves." 

Johnston   demurred    a    little,    but    finally 

yielded. 

"  The  girl  will  bring  a  cool  twelve  hun-^ 
dred   in   Orleans,"   he    considered. 

The  prices  of  Harry  and  Joe  were  ad- 
justed  with  less  difficulty,  Mr.  Johnston  be- 
iiig  first  favored  with  a  view  of  them,  and 
the  trader  prepared  to  take  his  leave. 
The  bargain  was  closed,  and  he  was  to 
come  over  in  the  morning  to  make  the 
"settlement,  and    take   possession  of  his   pur- 

chases. 

"It  will  be  hard  to  break  the  news  to 
Susan,"  thought  Mr.  Leeson,  as  he  turned 
away  from  the  door,  after  showing  out  his 
guest.  "I  will  wait  until  the  morning;  as 
well   put   it   off  to   the   last   moment." 


CHAPTER    XY. 

SUSAX'S   FLIGHT. 

FREDERICK'S  impression  of  the  secrecy 
attending  bis  visitor's  errand  happened 
to  be  quite  unfounded.  The  unusual  ap- 
pearance of  a  trader  at  Wheatley  Place 
was  an  event  of  itself  sufficient  to  excite 
the  lively  apprehensions  of  the  servants. 
Rose  flew  down  to  the  kitchen,  her  dusky 
face  blanched  to  a  dull  gray,  and  her  e3'es 
dilated  to  their  utmost  width  with  her 
master's  message  to  Susan.  To  disobey  it 
the  poor  girl  well  knew  would  prove 
fruitless ;  and,  with  a  trembling  heart,  she 
gathered  up  the  tray  bearing  the  bottle  of 
liquor  and  glasses,  and  took  her  way  up 
to  the  sitting-room.  The  scrutinizing  look 
which   the   trader    threw   upon    her    as   she 

118 


SUSAN'S   FLIGHT.  119 

faced  liim  in  turning  to  go  out  did  not 
escape  her  attention,  and  with  faculties 
quickened  by  her  alarm,  she  stole  out  by 
a  side-door  to  the  veranda  on  leaving  the 
room,  instead  of  proceeding  back  to  the 
kitchen. 

It  was  a  gray  December  twilight,  and 
a  drizzling  shower  of  rain,  which  had  been 
threatening  from  the  full  clouds  nearly  all 
day,  was  beginning  to  patter  upon  the 
damp  boards.  She  felt  very  little  of  the 
mist  or  the  cold  as  she  crept  up  to  one 
of  the  windows  which,  luckily  for  her 
purpose,  was  not  close  shut,  and,  with 
her  ear  laid  to  the  narrow  aperture,  lis- 
tened to  the  conversation  going  on  between 
her  master  and  his  visitor.  She  heard 
them    discussing   the    terms    of  her    sale. 

A  cold  perspiration  started  to  her  fore- 
head, and  the  strength  seemed  for  the  in- 
stant to  quit  her  limbs.  It  would  not  do 
to  be  seen  here.  She  started  up  as  a 
movement  took  place  in  the  room,  and 
glided   away   noiselessly    back    to   the    door 


120  MILLICEM    HALFOIin. 

through  which  she  had  stoleo  out.  She 
dared  not  trust  herself  with  her  white 
face  and  startled  eyes  to  the  observation 
of  her  fellow-servants,  but  crept  up  over 
the  back  staircase  to  her  little  chamber, 
where  she  shut  herself  in.  What  should 
she  do  ?  A  little  girl  of  twelve,  she  had 
come  to  Wheatley  Place,  bought  by  its 
master  at  a  slave-auction  in  Virgiuia.  All 
her  life  intervening,  up  to  this  full  wo- 
manhood, had  passed  here.  Who  shall  say 
she  had  not  the  ties  of  habit  to  endear 
the  spot?  But  it  was  not  this  parting 
which  agonized  her.  She  knew  the  fate 
to  which  she  was  going  out ;  she  had 
heard  it  hinted  at  by  the  trader.  She 
crouched  down,  wringing  her  hands,  by 
the  side  of  her  little  pallet.  What  could 
she  do? 

''  If  I  run  away,  I  shall  be  brought 
back,"  she  moaned.  ''  I  can't  leave  my 
child.     0   Jesus,   have    pity    on   me!" 

"  I  must  go  down,"  she  thought ;  "  they 
will   miss   me."      She    got    up    and    looked 


SUSAN'S   FLIGHT.  121 

out  of  her  narrow  window  upon  the  dark- 
gray  sky,  over  which  the  clouds  were 
rohing  up,  with  a  fast-fahing  shower  com- 
ing from  the  west.  ''It  will  be  a  dark 
night,"  she  thought,  as  she  stood  studying 
the  sky.  "This  gleam  of  light  will  soon 
shut  down.  I  can't  but  be  taken,"  she 
mused,  as  she  went  down  the  stairs.  ''I'll 
try  it,  any  way.  I'm  not  afraid  to  die,  if 
it  comes  to  that."  But  how  was  she 
to  get  away  cumbered  with  the  child? 
Her  poor  temples  throbbed  with  fever-heat 
as    she    tried   to    think. 

At  supper  she  contrived  to  slip  two  or 
three  corn-cakes  into  her  pocket  when 
Rose's  attention  was  turned,  and  Lizzie 
had  got  up  to  go  to  the  stove.  Dinah 
was  up  with  her  mistress,  and  did  not 
come  down  until  their  meal  was  ended. 
She  had  to  take  up  her  basket  of  sewing, 
and  to  appear  as  unconcerned  as  her  state 
of  distress  would  permit.  Luckily  her  si- 
lent mood  was  too  common  to  attract 
attention,  and  she  heard  their  uneasy   spec- 


122  MILLICENT    riALFOIlD. 

ulations  upon  tlie  trader's  possiMe  errand 
without  betraying  her  vital  interest  in  tlie 
sulject. 

Eight,  nine,  ten,  came  round,  and  a  gen- 
eral movement  took  place  to  retire.  Susan 
gathered  up  her  baby,  wliich  now  lay  in 
a  peaceful  sleep  upon  tlie  wooden  settle, 
and    took   her  away    up   to    her    chamber. 

At  eleven  Mr.  Frederick  would  be  sure 
to  retire,  according  to  his  usual  custom, 
and  the  house  would  be  clear.  She  got 
out  her  shawl  and  hood,  took  a  warm 
covering  from  the  bed  to  wrap  her  baby 
from  the  rain,  and  going  to  the  head  of 
the  long  staircase,  crouched  back  in  the 
shadows  to  T\-hich  the  hall  lamp  failed  to 
penetrate,   and  listened. 

By  and  by  the  sitting-room  door  un- 
closed. Mr.  Leeson  came  out,  and,  with  a 
cloud  resting  on  his  usually  open  face, 
began  to  ascend  the  staircase.  .  Susan 
drew  farther  back  in  her  corner,  waited 
for  him  to  enter  his  chamber  and  close 
the    door,  and   then  stole  back    to  her  own. 


SUSAN'S   FLIGHT.  123 

It  took  but  a  moment  to  equip  herself 
in  her  hood  and  shawl ;  another  to  wrap 
her  babe  and  lift  it,  still  sleeping,  from 
its  pillow,  and  then,  with  a  step  winged 
to  lightness  by  fear,  she  glided  down  tlie 
staircase.  Her  advent  was  to  take  place 
through  one  of  the  sitting-room  windows, 
which  opened  on  the  veranda.  This  she 
had  chosen  as  the  nearest  and  most  prac- 
ticable way.  The  slipping  of  a  bolt  might 
give  the  alarm,  or  even  the  creaking  of  a 
door    in    the    night     stillness. 

The  hall  was  safely  crossed,  and  Susan 
had  just  laid  her  hand  on  the  door  of  the 
sitting-room,  when,  to  her  dismay,  it  opened 
from  the  inside,  and  she  found  herself  con- 
fronting  Miss   Halford. 

Millicent  with  difficulty  repressed  an  ex- 
clamation, w^arned  to  silence  by  Susan's 
sudden  gesture  of  placing  her  finger  im- 
ploringly, on  her  lip.  She  stepped  back 
into  the  room,  followed  by  the  intended 
fugitive,  and  closed  the  door.  In  one  hand 
she    retained    her    lamp,    upon    which    her 


12-4  MILLTCENT    HALFORD. 

grasp  had  rather  tightened  than  loosened 
in  the  surprise  of  the  moment,  and  in  the 
other  a  vinaigrette,  which  her  aunt  liad  left 
below,  and  despatched  her  for  at  this  late, 
and  as  it  proved  for  poor  Susan  inoppor- 
tune, hour. 

'^  What  does  this  mean  ? "  asked  Millicent, 
glancing  at  the  hood  and  shawl  and  the 
still  sleeping  babe,  closely  folded  in  its 
mother's   arms. 

"  Master  hab  sold  me  to  de  trader  dat 
was  here  to-night,  Miss  Halford,"  said  Su- 
san,  "and   I   am   going   to   run  away." 

Millicent  put  down  her  lamp  on  the  table, 
and  sat  down  herself  in  tl\e  nearest  chair, 
in    her   surprise. 

"  It  must  be  a  mistake,  Susan,''  she  said, 
faintly.     "  I    have    heard   nothing    of  it." 

"  Why  should  you.  Miss  Halford  ?  You 
are  from  de  North,  de  free  country,  where 
de  abolitionists  lib.  Dey  wouldn't  hab  told 
you  of  it;    dey  would    tink   you  would   tell 

US. 

"But  how  do  you  know?  Are  you 
sure?" 


SUSAN'S   FLIGHT.  125 

"  I  listened,  and  heard  mas'r  and  de  tra- 
der talk.  He  is  coming  for  me  and  Harry 
and   Joe    in    de    morning." 

"  I  shall  not  stop  you,  Susan,"  said  Mil- 
licent,  recovering  from  her  surprise  a  little, 
and  looking  up  to  meet  the  wild  glitter 
in  the  woman's  eye.  "  But  how  can  you 
get  away  with  your  child,  and  in  this  wild, 
stormy  night?"  She  shuddered.  The  rain 
was  beating  in  a  torrent  on  the  hard 
ground. 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  Susan,  wearily ; 
"but  I'm  going,  and  perhaps  de  Lord  will 
provide   for  me." 

"You  have,  friends  to  help  you?"  said 
Millicent,  inquiringly.  "  You  needn't  fear 
to   trust   me,    Susan." 

"No,  Miss  Halford,  I  habn't  one.  I  don't 
know  where  I'm  going,  or  how  I  shall  get 
away." 

Millicent  looked  at  her.  "Was  it  a  secret 
voice  which  whispered  it  to  be  her  duty 
to  give  all  the  help  she  could  to  this  poor 
creature   in   her   deadly   strait? 


126  MILLICENT   IIALFORD. 

"  You  can  never  get  away  on  foot/'  she 
said;  "you  will  be  overtaken  and  brought 
back."  Her  thoughts  ran  quickly  over  two 
or  three  plans,  coming  back  to  their  first 
starting-point.  "  The  train  passes  at  the 
station  above  here  at  eight  in  the  morn- 
ing;   if  you    could    get   on    board  — " 

Susan  shook  her  head.  "  IVe  no  money, 
Miss   Halford,  —  only    a   few    cents." 

Millicent  put  her  hand  into  her  pocket, 
bringing  out  her  purse.  "  How  fortunate," 
she  murmured,  still  keeping  her  voice  down 
to  the  level  of  a  whisper,  "  tliat  I  should 
havie   had   this    with   me !      Here    is    enough 

to  buy  your  ticket  to .     I  wish  it  were 

more.  I  don't  know  what  you  will  do  the 
rest   of  the    way." 

"  Thank  you  a  thousand  times,  Miss  Hal- 
ford,"  faltered  Susan,  pressing  her  lips  to 
her  hand.  "  Only  let  me  get  a  good  start 
from  here,  and  I  shall  get  safe.  The  Lord 
certainly   heard    me    to-night." 

"If  you  can  only  get  to  Philadelphia," 
said   Millicent;    "but   I    can't   tell   you    any- 


SUSAN'S  FLIGHT. 


127 


thing  about,  the  way."  A  gust  of  wind 
sliook  one  of  the  windows;  both  started. 
'a  dare  not  stay  longer,"  whispered  Mil- 
licent,  starting  up.  ''Aunt  Leeson  will  be 
impatient,  and  send  for   me." 

She  took  up  her  lamp,  and,  without  trust- 
ing herself  with  another  look  or  word  to 
the  trembling  woman  before  her,  started  to 
the    door. 


CHAPTER    XVI. 

THE    FRUITLESS   SEARCH. 

OX  returning  to  lier  aunt's  chamber,  Mil- 
licent  found  Mrs.  Leeson  impatiently 
waiting  for  lier  appearance  with  the  vuiai- 
grette.  She  had  not  yet  given  up  the  h.ihit, 
acquired  in  the  first  weeks  of  her  aunt's 
convalescence,  of  sleeping  on  a  little  p  diet 
in  her  dressing-room  to  be  in  readine-s  to 
her  call,  sliould  she  require  attention  duiing 
the    night. 

''  You  look  pale,  Millicent,"  she  observed, 
as  she  took  the  smelling-bottle  from  her 
band.     ''You  have   not  met  with  a  fright?" 

''  No,  ma'am."  Millicent  tried  to  steady 
her  voice,  and  to  make  a  change  of  posi- 
tion which  would  conceal  her  face,  under 
tlie  pretence  of  stooping  to  adjust  her 
aunt's  pillows. 

12S 


THE  FRUITLESS  SEAECH.        129 

"Frederick  was  not  up?"  persisted  Mrs. 

Leeson. 

"No,  ma'am;    I    beard    him    pass   up    to      * 

his   chamber   an   hour   ago." 

Mrs.  Leeson  laid  herself  back  upon  her 
pillows  with  a  languid  sigh,  and  Milhcent 
prepared  to  go  out.  The  rain-drops  were 
beating  heavily  against  the  window;  she 
shuddered  as  she  thought  of  the  poor  way- 
farer outside.  It  was  quite  two  miles  to 
the  second  station.  Could  she  find  her  way  ^ 
through  the  wet   roads  in  the  impenetrable 

darkness? 

Little  sleep  visited  MiUicent's  piUow  that 
night.      Once     or     twice    she    fell    into    a 
troubled   dream,  to   wake   from   it  with   the 
oppressive   sense   of   a  nightmare   weighing 
upon  her;   and    toward    day-dawn    she   was 
glad  to  distinguish  a  temporary  lull   in  the 
outside    elements,    and    by   and    by   to    dis- 
cover  that  the  rain  had  ceased   altogether. 
She   lay   waiting   for   some   signs   of  life   m 
the    house    before    venturing    to    rise,   and 
when   she   at  last   did   so,  the   day  was  far 
9 


130  MILLICEXT    IIALFORD. 

advanced.  The  storm  of  the  past  night  was 
over ;  a  clear  blue  sky  spread  overhead, 
*  and  the  sun  was  coming  up  royally  in  the 
east.  Millicent  had  a  difficult  task  before 
her.  She  went  down  at  the  breakfast-bell 
with  a  fluttering  heart.  Mr.  Leeson  had 
just  made  his  appearance ;  Adele  came  in 
at  the  same  moment ;  Mrs.  Leeson  still 
breakfasted  in  her  chamber.  Susan's  flight 
had  not  yet  been  discovered.  It  was  close 
upon  eiglit;  Millicent  had  stopped  to  look 
at  her  aunt's  watch  upon  the  table  on  com- 
ing down.  She  allowed  herself  to  be  helped 
to  one  of  the  hot  rolls,  and  poured  out 
Mr.  Leeson's  coffee  with  as  steady  a  hand 
as    she    could   assume. 

"You  are  looking  pale,  Millicent,"  ob- 
served Frederick,  who  seemed  unusually 
preoccupied,  his  attention  drawn  to  her 
near  the  close  of  the  repast.  "  You  con- 
fine yourself  too  closely  to  my  mother. 
All  invalids  are  inclined  to  be  exacting. 
You  should  urge  your  claims  to  more  rec- 
reation.'^ 


THE   FRUITLESS   SEARCH.  131 

"I  am  quite  well,"  said  Millicent,  her 
voice  dropping.  '^  The  wildness  of  the 
storm  last  night  has  unsettled  my  nerves." 

"  The  hail  pattered  heavily  against  my 
windows,"  observed  Frederick ;  "  it  was  se- 
vere   enough   to   keep   any   one    waking." 

They  had  not  left  the  table  when  Mr. 
Johnston  was  announced.  Frederick  rose  to 
go  in  to  see  him.  He  stopped  to  tell  Rose 
to  call  Susan.  The  girl  hesitated.  Some- 
thing in  her  bewildered  manner  made  her 
master   stop. 

"I  don't  know  where  she  is,  sir,"  she 
said.  "  She  hasn't  made  her  'pearance  in 
de  kitchen  for  dis  whole  morning;  and 
Dinah  she  went  up  to  her  room  a  minute 
ago,   and   she  wasn't   dere." 

Mr.  Leeson  came  to  a  full  stop.  "Where 
can  she  be  gone  ?  "  he  exclaimed.  "  Search 
for  her  at  once,  and  send  her  into  the 
sitting-room."     He   kept   on   his   way   out. 

Millicent  sat  trembling.  It  was  now  past 
eight;  the  train  had  started  out.  Rose  dis- 
appeared  on   her   useless   errand. 


132  MILLTCEKT  IIALFORD. 

Several  moments  passed,  wlien  Mr.  Lee- 
son  again  made  his  appearance.  Dinah  en- 
tered at  the  same  instant  by  the  opposite 
door. 

'^  Nothing  can  be  found  of  her,  sir  I " 
she  exclaimed,  speaking  to  her  master. 
"Her   bed    hasn't   been    slept   in." 

The  case  was  plain  at  last.  Susan  had 
run  off. 

Frederick  stifled  an  oath  which  sprang  to 
his  lips.  It  was  pardonable  in  the  heat  of 
his  vexation. 

"Has  she  taken  her  child?"  he  asked. 
"  When    was    she   seen   last  ? " 

"  She  went  up  to  her  chamber  wid  us 
last  night,  sir,  jest  de  same  as  usual.  We 
heard  nothing  afterwards.  I's  jest  asked 
Rose   and   Lizzie." 

Frederick  took  a  quick  step  back  to  the 
door  of  the  sitting-room.  Millicent  heard 
his  hurried  exclamation  to  the  man  inside. 

"  The  girl  has  run  off  it  seems,  —  went 
off  last  night.  I  have  got  to  search  after 
her.  Will  you  wait  here  till  I  come 
back  ?  " 


THE   FRUITLESS   SEARCH.  133 

"No;  I'll  join  in  the  hunt,  Mr.  Leeson. 
It's  lucky  I  didn't  pay  down  for  her  last 
night,   I   reckon." 

"  She  can't  have  got  far  with  the 
child  — "said  Frederick;  the  closing  of 
the  door  shut  out  the  remainder  of  the 
sentence. 

"Mistress  wants  to  see  you,  Miss  Hal- 
ford,"  said  Dinah,  putting  her  head  in 
from  the  hall;  and  Millicent  got  up  from 
the  table  to  go  up  to  her  aunt's  chamber. 
She  obeyed  the  summons  with  no  little 
anxiety.  Did  Mrs.  Leeson  suspect  her  of 
aiding  in  poor  Susan's  flight?  If  such  a 
suspicion  should  enter  into  the  lady's 
mind,  her  agitation  of  the  past  night 
would  tell  seriously  against  her.  She 
found  her  aunt  wrapped  up  in  her  dress- 
ing-gown in  her  easy-chair  by  the  fire,  a 
table  littered  with  the  remains  of  her 
breakfast   at  her   side. 

"  What  is  all  this  confusion  about,  Milli- 
cent?" she  asked,  querulously,  without 
turning   round  at  her  niece's  entrance.     "I 


134  MILLTCENT   HALFORD. 

can  make  little  of  it  out  of  Dinah.  What 
is   the    trouble?" 

The  girl  had  evidently  been  afraid  to 
impart  to  her  mistress  in  her  still  weak 
and  excitable  state  the  fact  of  her  fellow- 
servant's    flight. 

"  1  believe  Susan  has  run  off,"  said  Mil- 
licent,   thinking    it   best   to    tell    the    worst. 

'^  Run  off ! "  Mrs.  Leeson's  face  ex- 
pressed a  mute  consternation.  "  Nonsense  ! 
She  wouldn't  leave  her  baby ;  she's  some- 
where  round.     Has   Johnston   come  ?  " 

"Yes,  ma'am;  he  is  below, — just  starts 
ing  off  with  Mr.  Frederick  in  search  of 
ber." 

It  was  true.  Mrs.  Leeson  folded  her 
hands  together  with  a  deep-drawn  breath. 
"  She  can't  have  got  far ! "  she  exclaimed. 
"  I  heard  the  hail  beat  against  the  shut- 
ters  long   after  midnight." 

Millicent  bustled  about,  making  a  show 
of  putting  the  chamber  to  rights,  and 
keeping  her  face  carefully  out  of  the 
range    of  her   aunt's   observation. 


THE  FRUITLESS   SEARCH.  135 

"How  could  she  have  found  out  that 
Frederick  meant  to  sell  her?"  queried 
Mrs.  Leeson.  "I  can't  imagine.  Some 
carelessness   on   his   part.      It    is    just    like 

him." 

Millicent  turned  to  go  out,  relieved  that 
her  part  in  the  poor  slave's  escape  was  still 
unsuspected.  She  went  up  to  her  chamber, 
and  closed  the  door  upon  herself,  to  wait, 
to   hope,  and  pray. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

THE   HOLIDAYS. 

]~j^REDERICK  returned  unsuccessful  from 
-  his  searcli,  to  his  great  disappointment 
and  vexation.  The  wild  storm  of  the  night, 
which  he  had  trusted  would  impede  the 
progress  of  the  fugitive,  had,  in  reality, 
mercifully  sheltered  her  flight.  He  could 
discover  no  trace  of  the  course  she  had 
taken,  and  all  inquiries  had  proved  worse 
than  useless.  As  to  the  railroad-station, 
by  the  interposition  of  a  merciful  Provi- 
dence, that  route  never  entered  his 
thoughts.  It  might  have  been  compara- 
tively easy  for  her  to  have  effected  her 
escape  in  that  manner  under  the  disguise 
of  a  poor  white  woman;  but  he  knew 
her     to     be     without     means,    and      never 

136 


THE   HOLIDAYS.  137 

dreamed  that  any  one  of  his  household  had 
dared  to  commit  the  capital  offence  of  of- 
fering  sympathy   and   aid   to   her   flight. 

What  could  be  done?  Frederick  could 
only  dash  off  a  notice  to  a  county  paper, 
containing  a  description  of  the  girl,  and  of- 
fering a  reward  for  her  capture,  and 
then  consider  the  necessity  of  making 
good  her  place  with  the  trader.  As  to 
the  last  consideration,  the  money  her  sale 
would  have  brought  he  needed,  and  must 
have.  The  mortgage  could  not  go  uncan- 
celled. Since  Mr.  Bennet  declined  to  wait 
his  time,  another  of  his  field  hands  must 
be  parted  with.  He  made  the  election  un- 
wilhngly,  under  the  hard  pressure  of  ne- 
cessity ;  but,  as  good  fortune  ordered,  it 
was  now  winter,  and  his  place  could  be 
refilled  out  of  the  portion  which  would 
come  to  him  with  his  bride's  hand  in  the 
spring.  It  was  not  in  his  easy  nature  to 
doubt  the  certainty  of  his  marriage, 
though  his  cousin's  singular  conduct  gave 
him     no     Httle     vexation     and     displeasure. 


138  MILLICENT   nALFORD. 

She  had  chosen  to  take  pique  on  some 
silly  trifle,  —  it  was  a  woman's  way  ;  but 
of  the  depth  of  her  attachment  to  himself 
he  entertained  no  real  doubt.  His  mother 
did,  with  better  means  of  knowledge,  and 
the  anxiety  of  mind  very  much  retarded 
her   recovery. 

December  was  waning,  and  still  no  re- 
ply to  Frederick's  letter  from  his  be- 
trothed, lie  finally  dashed  off  a  note  to 
Mr.  Stuart,  briefly  demanding  the  cause  of 
Augusta's  singular  conduct.  A  speedy  re- 
ply arrived,  but  directed  to  his  mother, 
and  emanating  from  Miss  Stuart.  It  of- 
fered a  long-pending  visit  to  Mrs.  Leeson 
from  the  lady,  —  nothing  less  than  the 
spending  of  the  Christmas  holidays  at 
Wheatley  Place,  and  added  tliat  she  would 
probably  be  accompanied  on  this  occasion 
by  her  brother's  ward.  It  need  not  be  add- 
ed that  Mrs.  Leeson  made  haste  to  give 
a  most  cordial  answer,  and,  indeed,  at  first 
the  letter  seemed  to  act  as  an  elixir  to 
revive  her  from  the  languid  state  into 
which  she   had   settled   since   the   fever. 


THE  HOLIDAYS.  1^^ 


An  after-thought  came  to  detract  some- 
what from  the  pleasure  of  receiving  the 
expected  visitors.  James  would  be  at 
home  during  a  part  of  the  holidays,  and 
no  doubt  this  fact  had  entered  into  the 
calculations    of  the   younger  lady. 

It  was  very  unfortunate.  Mrs.  Leeson 
pondered  over  the  matter  until  her  head 
seemed  turning  with  the  quickened  pulsa- 
tions of  her  brain.  The  marriage  must 
take    place.      Frederick    would    be    ruined 

witho-at   it. 

Miss  Stuart  and  Augusta  made  their  ap- 
pearance precisely  a  week  from  the  re- 
ceipt of  Mrs.  Leeson-s  letter,  and  three 
days  later  Mr.  James  Leeson  arrived  from 
Bowling  Green  at  the  commencement  ot 
the  Christmas-week,  to  meet  with  an  agree- 
able  and  quite  unexpected  surprise,  under 
his   mother's   roof. 

The  Christmas-week  of  1860!  Who  of  us 
dreamed,  as  we  looked  out  upon  its  snow- 
white  fields  and  gray  skies,  that  the  an- 
niversary  of  its   return  would   witness   our 


140  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

fair  land,  from  Xorth  to  South,  rent  in  tho 
seetliing  convulsions  of  civil  war?  Wo  at 
the  North,  as  the  low  murmurs  of  the 
rising  storm  reached  us,  said,  *'  The  South 
w^ill  never  secede ;  she  dare  not ;  for  her 
uprising  would  put  arms  in  the  hands  of 
her  ^millions  of  slaves.  These  idle  words 
will  die  away."  But  we  forgot  that,  en- 
throned above  us,  was  a  living  God,  who 
in  the  old  days  sealed  tho  eyes  of  tho 
Egyptians,  and  to  whom  the  cry  of  the 
oppressed   never   ascends   in   vain. 

South  Carolina  had  already  passed  her 
ordinance  of  secession,  which  act  took  place 
on  the  20th  of  December,  without  wait- 
ing for  the  inauguration  of  the  incoming 
government ;  and  this  news  Mr.  Stuart 
brought  to  the  Kentucky  household  to 
which  he  came  down  to  spend  the  Christ- 
mas-week  with   his   already    present   family. 

A  hush  fell  upon  the  little  group  in  the 
sitting-room,  following  the  announcement.  Xo 
one  there  saw  the  armed  hosts  which  were 
to   overrun   the  peaceful   valleys ;  the  blood- 


THE  HOLIDAYS.  1^1 

red  fields  on  which  tens  of  thousands  were 
to  lay   down   their   lives   in  the   awful   car- 
nage    of    battle;     the    grief-wrung     homes, 
peopled    with    the   pale     spectres    of    want 
and    fomine;   or,    in    the    background,    the 
ecstatic  joy   of  millions  of  liberated   bonds- 
nien,-to   all   of    which    this   act,   taken   in 
the    blindness    of   human   wisdom,   was    the 
opening;    but   each    in    the    space    of   that 
instant    felt    the  chill   of    a  '  mournful    and 
individual   presentiment. 

"The  North  will  not  fight,"  said  Fred- 
erick Leeson,  who  was  the  first  to  re- 
cover  himself;  "she  will  yield  to  the  just 
claims  of  the  South,  and  settle  the  matter 
by  a  compromise.  These  difficulties  will 
blow  over.  South  Carolina  is  hot-headed. 
Her  movement   is   premature." 

Mr.  Stuart  shook  his  head.  "  It  is  easy 
to  talk  of  compromises,"  he  said;  "but 
such  is  not  the  character  of  the  Northern 
mind.  The  time,  too,  has  passed  for  mu- 
tual concessions.  The  South  has  already 
borne   too  much.     Look  at   the  petitions  m 


142  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

Congress  year  after  year  to  take  away 
our  property  !  Think  of  the  John  Crown 
raid !  What  can  we  expect  from  an  ad- 
ministration which  numbers  such  support- 
ers  among   its   first   friends  ? " 

''  But  what  can  be  gained  by  going 
out?"  asked  Frederick.  "Such  a  step,  if 
carried  out,  will  only  inaugurate  the  hor- 
rors   of  a   bloody    war." 

''The  North  will  hardly  fight,"  said  Mr. 
Stuart.  "  The  voice  of  public  sentiment 
there  will  be  against  the  war.  In  such  an 
event  as  an  unfriendly  separation,  you  will 
soon  see  the  South"  a  united  unit,  and  the 
North   rent  and   powerless  with  factions." 

"  The  government  is  good  as  it  stands," 
observed  Mrs.  Leeson,  moving  uneasily  to 
a  new  position  in  the  depths  of  her  capa- 
cious easy-chair,  and  dropping  the  work 
which  she  held  idly  in  her  fingers.  "  The 
new  President  elect  could  not  interfere  with 
our  slaves  if  he  chose  to  do  so.  The  Con- 
stitution   would    keep    our   rights." 

"  Yes,"    said    James,    who    had    not    yet 


THE  HOLIDAYS.  143 

taken  part  in  the  conversation;  "but  there 
are  other  considerations.  The  South  ^vill 
rapidly  rise  to  power  and  wealth  without 
the  North  ;  it  has  always  been  an  incubus 
upon  her  growth  with  its  one-sided  tariff." 
"If  the  separation  can  be  accomplished 
peaceably,"  observed  Frederick;  "but  I 
doubt  very   much   if  such   a   step  can." 

"  Should  it  come  to  a  struggle,"  observed 
Mr.  Stuart,   "  the  preponderance,  in  spite  of 
numbers,  would   be  with  our   section.     The 
North   is  a    nation    of   tradesmen    and    me- 
chanics,  devoted    to    menial    labors,   wholly 
unused   to   arms,   and   lacking    in   the   cour- 
age  and   chivalry  whicli   belong   to   our   su- 
perior race.     The  conflict  would  not   prove 
a   protracted    one,   and    the   result    is   easy 
to   anticipate." 
-       Augusta  and  MiUicent  had  both  sat  silent, 
Augusta  turning  the  pages  of  a  book  which 
she^eld    in  her  hand,  her  beaming  eye  and 
glowing     cheek  '  showing     alone     that     lier 
thoughts    were    with    the    speakers,   and    on 
some    branch    of    the    subject    which    they 


144  MILLTCKXT    HALFOUO. 

had  accidentally  toucliod  ;  Milliccnt  bending 
over  her  sewing,  a  little  paler  than  usual, 
and  with  one  or  two  anxious  questions 
Avhispering   in    her    heart. 

Would  God  approve  an  unholy  cause, 
and  set  upon  it  the  seal  of  his  approval 
by  a  host  of  victories,  should  the  possible 
conflict  come?  Was  it  true  that  his  ear 
could  be  deaf  to  the  groans  of  the  slave 
under  the  lash,  the  baying  of  the  blood- 
hound in  pursuit  of  the  terror-stricken  fu- 
gitive, or  that  he  could  look  with  approval 
upon  the  selling  and  using  of  his  human 
children  as  beasts  of  burden?  //'  he  did 
notj  the  end  was  clear.  The  awful  day  of 
retribution  was  dawning?;  and  in  his  hand, 
the  North,  though  a  nation  of  tradesmen  and 
mechanics,  would  come  up  firmly  to  her 
work.  That  night,  by  her  bed,  she  prayed 
fervently  that  peace  might  heal  the  t!ireat- 
ening  dissensions  of  the  land ;  but,  as  she 
did  so,  the  face  of  the  fugitive  she  had 
helped  in  her  flight  on  that  wild  night  of 
storm    but   a   little   week  before,  seemed   to 


THE    HOLIDAYS.  145 

pass  before  her  out  of  the  darkness,  and 
her  face  sunk  lower  in  her  hands,  as  she 
added,  ^'Yet  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be 
done." 


y 


CHAPTER     XVIII. 

CHRISTMAS-DAY. 

THE  Christmas-day  broke  fair  and  clear, 
after  a  night  of  mist  and  rain.  Morn- 
ing services  were  held  in  the  chapel  lo- 
cated about  a  mile  from  Wlieatley  Place, 
and  Frederick  ordered  out  his  carriage  at 
an  intimation  from  his  mother  to  take 
thither  his  guests,  or  such  of  them  as 
should  desire  to  attend.  Miss  Stuart  gladly 
accepted  the  invitation ;  Mr.  Stuart  assented 
politely;  James,  whose  church-going  procliv- 
ities were  of  a  secondary  order,  declined, 
with  little  ceremony,  his  brother's  courteous 
proposal  that  he  should  take  his  place  in 
the  vehicle,  and  the  fourth  seat  was,  of 
course,  allotted  to  Angusta.  At  the  last 
moment  the  young  lady   changed   her  mind, 

140 


CHRISTMAS-DAY.  147 

and  announced  her  intention  of  staying  at 
home.  Remonstrances  proved  quite  in  vain. 
She  had  a  headache,  she  said,  which  must 
be  indulged ;  she  should  go  up  to  her 
chamber  and  lie  down.  "  Milhcent  can 
take  my  pkice,"  she  added.  There  was 
very  little  time  left  to  dress.  Mihicent 
hurried  up  to  her  chamber,  and,  without 
pausing  to  acquaint  her  aunt  with  the  new 
turn  of  arrangements,  came  back  to  find 
the  carriage  in  readiness,  and  the  company 
waiting.  If  Augusta's  object  was  to  open 
an  opportunity  for  a  tete-a-tete  with  Mr. 
James  Leeson,  her  point  was  fully  carried. 
At  the  expiration  of  little  more  than  an 
hour  after  the  carriage  had  driven  down 
the  avenue,  she  made  her  appearance  in 
the  sitting-room,  where  that  gentleman  sat, 
apparently  absorbed  in  the  columns  of  a 
fresh  paper,  but,  in  reality,  closely  buried 
in  a  train  of  not  ver}"  agreeable  reflec- 
tions. He  laid  down  his  paper,  on  his 
cousin's  entrance,  with  some  polite  inqui- 
ries for    her    headache. 


148  MILLICKNT    HALFOUD. 

An  awkward  pau.<e  followed.  Mr.  Lee- 
son  tried  to  start  some  indifferent  topic, 
and  turned,  for  assistance,  to  tlie  paragraph 
wLicli  had  taken  up  his  attention  at  her  en- 
trance. It  was  connected  with  the  conver- 
sation of  the  past  evening,  in  which  Augus- 
ta had  borne  her  part  as  an  interested 
h'stener. 

"  If  these  difficulties  should  culminate  in 
a  struggle,"  observed  James,  "  which  I  se- 
cretly believe  they  will,  1  shall  not  remain 
a  passive  spectator,  but  take  my  part  with 
my  own  section.  Kentucky  will  go  out  of 
the  old  Union,  and  so  will  most  of  the 
Border   States." 

"  Your  brother  thinks  differently,"  re- 
marked Augusta,  repressing  a  slightly  scorn- 
ful smile.  ^'  He  believes  these  difficulties 
will   yet   be    compromised." 

''  I  cannot,"  replied  James.  ''  The  move- 
ment is  too  widely  extended.  We  shall 
very  shortly  hear  that  each  of  the  States 
of  the  Southern  section  has  followed  the 
lead   of   South   Carolina.      But    as   to   Fred- 


CHEISTMAS-DAY.  149 

erick's  views,  when  the  time  for  decision 
comes,  I  have  little  doubt  that  he  will  be 
found    on   the    side   of  the   North." 

Augusta's  eyes  kindled ;  her  hot  South- 
ern blood  flushed  up  into  her  cheeks.  Wo- 
man-like,' she  had  little  idea  of  the  intri- 
cacies of  politics,  or  the  various  aspects 
which  this  close-at-hand  struggle  was  to  as- 
sume. Little  as  was  the  love  she  had  ever 
had  for  Frederick,  and  rapidly  as  this  sen- 
timent had  of  late  given  place  to  contempt, 
on  discovering  what  she  believed  to  be  his 
mercenary  suit  to  herself,  she  was  not  pre- 
pared  for   this    prediction. 

^*  Yon  believe  this  of  your  own  brother, 
James  I ''   she    exclaimed. 

''Why  should  I  not?"  asked  Mr.  Leeson. 
"You  heard  his  remarks  last  evening.  I 
do  not  anticipate  a  bloodless  separation  of 
these  States  from  the  old  Union,  as  I  have 
just  told  you.  The  struggle  may  be  even 
a  severe  one  in  the  commencement;  but 
we  cannot  fail  to  triumph  ultimately.  It 
will   call    out   armed   opposition    even   here, 


150  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

in  our  noble  State  of  Kentuckv.  Brother 
will  be  set  against  brother,  and  friend 
against  friend.  Frederick's  easy  nature  will 
take  up  the  shortest  policy ;  he  will  not 
stand   alone." 

"  You  are  unjust  to  him,"  said  Augusta, 
with    a   glow    of  feeling. 

''You  think  so?"  said  James,  stooping 
to  pick  up  his  paper,  which  had  slipped 
from  his  knee  to  the  floor,  with  the  air 
of  one  struck  by  a  sudden  recollection. 
"It  is  possible  that  I  am.  I  beg  your 
pardon,    Augusta." 

"  I  need  no  apology,"  said  the  lady,  col- 
oring, and  speaking  up  in  the  warmth  of 
the  moment.  "  I  have  no  stake  in  your 
brother's  truth  or  falseness  to  his  country; 
yet  I  believe  him  incapable  of  the  baseness 
of  siding   with    its    enemies." 

"  No  stake  in  the  matter."  Mr.  James 
pondered  over  the  remark  with  some  inter- 
est. He  had  not  been  blind  to  the  cool- 
ness existing  between  his  brotljcr  and  his 
betrc)thed  in  the  two  days  which  had 
passed   since    his  arrival. 


CHRISTMAS-DAY.  151 

Augusta  sat  at  the  table  opposite  him, 
her  elbow  supported  by  it,  her  face  lean- 
ing upon  her  hand.  Her  heart,  it  must  be 
confessed,  beat  with  quickened  pulsations. 
The  moment  was  favorable  for  an  expla- 
nation.    Would   he  seize   it? 

Mr.  James  stole  a  glance  at  his  cousin, 
struck  by  the  crimsoning  of  her  half- 
averted  face,  and  the  pretty  embarrassment 
of  her   attitude. 

^'Augusta,"  he  exclaimed,  carried  out  of 
himself  in  the  suddenness  of  the  moment, 
'^  why  do  you  marry  Frederick?  You  do 
not  care  for  him.  You  cannot  be  happy 
together." 

His  cousin  made  him  no  reply.  Her 
face  was  wholly  averted  from  him  and 
half  shaded  by  her  hand.  He  threw  down 
his  paper,  and  came  toward  her,  moved 
by  an  impulse  he  no  longer  struggled  to 
control. 

"  Augusta,"  he  said,  bending  over  her, 
"  God  only  knows  how  I  have  struggled  to 
stand    by    and    look    in    silence    upon    this 


152  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

sacrifice  !  I  can  do  so  no  longer.  I  must 
speak  !  My  own  secret  unliappiness  I 
could  bear,  but  not  the  consciousness  of 
yours." 

"  You  mistake,"  said  Augusta,  speaking 
in  a  voice  scarcely  above  a  whisper,  as 
she  relinquished  to  liim  her  hand ;  '^  my 
engagement  to  your  brother  no  longer 
exists ;  it  was  broken  weeks  ago  by  a 
discovery  which  should  have  been  made 
by    me    earlier." 

"To  what  do  you  allude?"  asked  Jaiaes, 
breathlessly,    retaining   her   hand. 

^' To  the  involved  state  of  his  alTiirs, 
w^hich    he    has    kept   back    from    me." 

It  was  not  a  new  discovery  to  Mr.  Lee- 
son  ;  he  had  long  been  aware  of  his  broth- 
er's embarrassments.  Whether  this  was  suf- 
ficient ground  for  annulling  an  engagement, 
he  was  at  present  too  much  in  love  to 
determine.  He  contented  himself  with 
pressing  silent  kisses  upon  the  fair  hand 
in  his. 

"I  shall   bring   you  nothing,  James/'  said 


CHRISTMAS-DAY.  153 

Augusta,  after  a  little  pause.  "Mr.  Stuart, 
by  a  clause  in  my  father's  will,  has  the 
power  to  strip  me  of  my  fortune,  if  I 
marry  contrary  to  his  wishes.  He  has  set 
his  heart  upon  Frederick,  and  this  conceal- 
ment makes  no   difference  in  his  choice." 

"  I  do  not  want  your  fortune,  Augusta," 
returned  her  cousin ;  "  let  Mr.  Stuart  take 
it.  All  I  ask  is  yourself  My  profession, 
in  time,  will  open  to  me  all  I  desire,  and 
all  that  your  ambition  as  my  wife  can 
claim." 

But  it  would  necessitate  a  long  waiting. 
James  recalled  this  with  a  sudden  chill  of 
recollection. 

The  sound  of  the  carriage-wheels  coming 
up  over  the  frozen  ground  startled  both. 
James  went  back  to  his  seat ;  Augusta  wa- 
vered between  a  retreat  to  her  chamber 
and  a  dread  of  encountering  the  returning 
party  in  the  hall.  She  had  scarcely  a  mo- 
ment for  consideration,  when  the  echoes 
of  voices   and   footsteps    reached   her. 

Frederick  came  in  first,  flushed  and  hand- 


154  M]LLICENT    IIALFOPvD. 

some  with  his  dri\e  in  tlie  cool  air.  Un- 
observant as  he  was  in  his  easy  vanity, 
by  some  accident  the  tableau  before  liini 
on  this  morning  drew  his  attention,  —  liis 
cousin's  heightened  color  and  drooping  eyes, 
his  brother's  visible  embarrassment.  A  sud- 
den chill  came  over  him,  a  painful  sus- 
picion. He  commanded  himself  to  in- 
quire for  Augusta's  headache,  received  her 
half-spoken  replies,  and  stepped  to  tlie  win- 
dow. The  door  behind  him  unclosed;  Miss 
Stuart  came  in,  directly  followed  by  his 
mother.  He  had  time  to  think  in  the  buzz 
of  conversation  which  rose  between  the 
ladies.  Was  he  dreaming  ?  Everything 
around  him  seemed  frightfully  unreal.  Au- 
gusta, was  she  false  ?  His  brother,  his 
playmate,  his  friend,  who  had  known  noth- 
ing from  him  in  the  many  years  of  their 
family  tie  but  kindness,  —  could  he  be 
leagued  to  deceive  him  ?  The  dinner-bell 
rang  in  the  height  of  his  reflections.  He 
started  to  ofier  his  arm  to  lead  out  !Miss 
Stuart;    Mr.    Stuart  followed  with  Mrs.  Lee- 


CHRISTMAS-DAY.  155 

son;  he  felt,  rather  than  saw,  with  an  an- 
gry thrill,  that  James  was  on  the  point 
of  offering  a  similar  courtesy  to  Augusta; 
Millicent  and  Adele  made  up  the  company. 
If  he  has  wronged  me,  he  shall  account 
for  it  to  me  with  his  life,  though  he  be 
my  brother,  was  Frederick  Leeson's  stern 
determination,  as  with  outwardly  smiling 
lips   he   took  his   place   at  the   board. 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

THE   INTERVIEW   IN    THE   LIBRARY. 

FREDERICK  LEESON'S  eyes  were  fully 
opened.  He  saw  at  last  the  cause  of 
liis  betrothed's  singular  conduct  toward  liim; 
her  contemptuous  neglect  of  his  letters, 
and  the  coldness  and  constraint  which  had 
of  late  grown  up  between  them.  Her 
fickle  heart  had  made  a  transfer  of  itself 
to  his  brother,  and  James  had  dishonorably 
laid  his  plans  to  win  her  attachment. 
Now  that  this  conviction  had  once  entered 
his  mind,  a  thousand  circumstances  rose 
up  to  corroborate  it.  He  wondered  at  his 
blindness,  and  saw  that  the  deception  must 
have  been  going  on  for  a  long  time.  He 
thought  it  over  in  a  stillness  of  suppressed 
passion    infinitely   more    to    be    dreaded    in 

156 


THE   INTERVIEW   IN    THE   LIBRARY.  157 

its  results  than  any  stormy  outbreak. 
What  should  be  his  course  ?  To  rest 
passive  under  this  wrong  was  not  in  his 
nature.  To  any  other  than  his  brother,  in 
the  heat  of  his  hot  blood,  he  would  have 
despatched  a  challenge ;  as  it  was,  he  hes- 
itated. He  would  see  Augusta,  and  demand 
of  her  a  full  explanation ;  then  he  should 
understand    clearly   how    the   matter    stood. 

The  afternoon  and  evening  which  fol- 
lowed, to  one,  at  least,  of  the  party, 
proved  interminably  long.  James  and  Au- 
gusta, wrapped  in  their  new-found  happi- 
ness, kept  in  the  background  of  the  con- 
versation which  flowed  more  freely  than 
usual ;  Mrs.  Leeson  experienced  a  depres- 
sion for  which  she  was  unable  to  account; 
Frederick,  outwardly  unobservant,  secretly 
watched  every  look  and  word  which  passed 
between  the    suspected    couple. 

The  following  morning  favored  him  with 
the  opportunity  he  sought,  as,  crossing  his 
cousin  in  the  hall,  he  begged  for  a  few 
moments'  conversation   in  the   little  room  to 


158  MILLICENT   IIALFORD. 

tlie  left,  wliicl),  fitted  up  -witli  several  cases 
of  books,  bad  been  dignified  witb  tbe  ap- 
pellation of  the  library.  Augusta  followed 
him  tremblingly.  To  refuse  his  request 
was  impossible ;  the  denouement  must  come 
at  some  time ;  but  she  would  gladly  havo 
procrastinated  it.  Frederick  placed  a  chair 
for  his  cousin,  closed  the  door,  and  came 
back  to  take  his  seat  opposite  her.  Au- 
gusta glanced  at  him ;  his  usual  color  had 
quite  deserted  him;  his  eyes  wore  a  fixed, 
resolute    look;    hers   fell. 

"  Augusta,"  began  Mr.  Leeson,  with  his 
usually  subdued  tone  of  voice  and  maimer, 
''  you  have  not  yet  offered  me  any  expla- 
nation of  your  silence  since  I  left  Tudor 
Hall,  in  my  mother's  sickness.  Were  my 
letters    received   by   you  ?  " 

"  They  were,"  said  Augusta,  in  a  voice 
scarcely   audible. 

'^  Why,  then,  were  they  left  unanswered?" 

Augusta  roused  herself  to  answer.  A 
bright  glow  shot  up  into  her  face.  Why 
should    she   shrink   and    cower    before    this 


THE   INTERVIEW   IN   THE   LIBRARY.          159 

•unwortb}^  man  who  had  basely  deceived 
her ;  sought  her  hand  only  to  free  his  en- 
cumbered property?  Why  should  she  hes- 
itate  to    speak  ? 

"On  my  last  visit  here/'  she  said,  in  a 
low  voice,  *'I  made  a  discovery  which,  in 
my  opinion,  releases  me  from  my  part  of 
our  engagement.  You  may  be  aware  that, 
at  the  time  I  gave  you  my  promise,  it 
was  more  in  compliance  with  my  guardi- 
an's wishes  than  from  any  election  of  my 
own." 

"I  was  oiot  aware  of  it,"  said  Frederick, 
an  answering  glow  rising  in  a  crimson 
spot  to  his  cheek.  "  May  I  ask  the  char- 
acter of  the  discovery  to  which  you  al- 
lude?" 

Augusta  nerved  herself  to  the  answer. 
"  The  embarrassment  of  your  affairs,  which 
you  kept  back  from  me  at  the  time  of 
our   engagement." 

Frederick  bit  his  lip  till  the  blood  welled 
up  from  the  crimson  wound.  How  had 
these   perplexities    got    to    her   knowledge  ? 


IGO  MILLTCENT    IIALFORD. 

The  tables  were  suddenly  turned  between 
them.  A  hot  glow  of  mortification  dyed 
his   face. 

"  Ladies  are  supposed  to  have  little  in- 
terest in  such  matters,"  he  said.  *'  A  mort- 
gaged homestead  is  no  rare  matter  in  Ken- 
tucky. This  is  a  subject  ibr  your  guardian 
to   weigh,    Augusta,    rather    than    yoursell"" 

"  I  have  my  own  opinion  of  the  matter," 
said  the  young  lady,  speaking  with  firm- 
ness. "  In  my  judgment  this  discovery  sets 
me  free  from  my  part  of  our  engagement. 
I  will  not  marry  any  man  whose  love  for 
me  rests  under  the  imputation  of  interested 
motiv'es." 

"  It  is  easy  to  find  reasons  for  what  we 
wish,"  said  Frederick,  turning  his  penetrat- 
ing eyes  upon  her.  "  Will  you  assure  me, 
AiTigusta,  that  no  one  has  supplanted  me 
in   your  afi'ections  ?  " 

She  could  not  answer.  The  blood  re- 
treated from  her  cheeks ;  a  cold  perspira- 
tion   stood    upon    her   forehead. 

''Let    him    beware,"    said   Frederick,  in   a 


THE  INTERVIEW  IN  THE   LIBRARY.         161 

suppressed  voice,  "  the  man  who  has  stepped 
between  us,  whoever  he  may  be."  He 
rose.  ^'  I  will  not  hold  you  to  your 
promise,  Augusta.  A  woman's  hand  with- 
out her  heart  is  of  little  worth.  Shall  I 
leave  it  to  you  to  acquaint  Mr.  Stuart 
with   the    close   of   our   engagement  ? " 

She  bent  her  head,  without  trusting  her 
lips  to  speak.  Both  rose.  Augusta,  on 
leaving  the  room,  passed  up  to  her  cham- 
ber. Her  pulses  were  throbbing  violently; 
her  head  ached.  The  shock  of  the  com- 
munication to  her  cousin  had  passed;  but 
the  consequences  remained  to  be  consid- 
ered. Plainly  his  suspicions  were  aroused, 
and  not  far  from  the  right  track.  The 
greatest  caution  would  be  necessary  in 
her  future  intercourse  with  her  lover. 
What  if  an  open  quarrel  should  come  about 
between  them?  She  trembled  at  the  idea. 
It  had  blanched  her  cheek,  and  stopped 
the  quick  beating  of  her  heart  a  moment 
ago.  It  would  not  do  for  her  to  remain 
in  her  chamber ;  her  absence  would  excite 
11 


1C2  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

her  aunt's  attention.  She  got  up  wearily 
from  the  cliair  into  wliicli  she  had  tlirown 
herself,  and  prepared  to  go  down.  In  stop- 
ping from  the  staircase,  she  encountered 
suddenly  the  object  of  her  thoughts.  Mr. 
James,  probabl}^  missing  her  from  the  com- 
pany in  the  sitting-room  had  stepped  out 
into  the  hall.  It  was  not  a  very  fivorable 
opportunity  for  a  private  conversation ;  Ijut 
Augusta  seized  upon  it  in  the  hurry  of 
the   moment. 

'^  I  have  just  spoken  with  Frederick, 
James,"  she  whispered.  "  We  have  parted 
in  anger.  It  would  be  terrible  if  he  should 
discover   the    whole." 

"  It  must  come  out  sometime/'  said  Mr. 
James,    indifferently. 

"  But  he  will  never  forgive  you  ;  it  will 
bring   about   an    open   quarrel." 

The  sitting-room  door  again  opened. 
Mrs.  Leeson  came  out  in  time  to  see  her 
niece';5  hand  released,  and  to  notice  the 
young  lady's  heightened  color  as  she 
swept  past  her  into  the  room  she  was  in 
the   act   of  leaving. 


THE   INTERVIEW   IN   THE   LIBRARY.         163 

"  James,"  said  Mrs.  Leeson,  stepping  up 
to  her  son  and  speaking  in  a  suppressed 
voice,  ^'  what  does  this  mean  ?  Are  you 
sensible  of  what  must  be  the  consequences 
of  your   folly  ?  " 

"  Augusta  is  free,  madam,  to  choose  for 
herself,"  said  Mr.  James,  without  any  at- 
tempt at  evasion,  or  any  disposition  to 
put  a  false  face  upon  the  actual  state  of 
affairs,  which  his  judgment  might  have 
told  him  would  be  hopeless.  "  Frederick 
has  released  her  from  her  engagement  to 
him,  and    she   is  free   to   elect  for   herself" 

"  Released  her !  "  Mrs.  Leeson  gasped 
for  breath,  and  turned  white.  "  How  has 
this  come  about  ?  You  have  had  your 
part   in   it,  James." 

The  gentleman  did  not  reply ;  perhaps 
he   had   no   answer   to   give. 

Another  timely  interruption  came  about. 
Adcle's  light  step  ghded  down  the  stair- 
case. Mrs.  Leeson  broke  away  from  her 
son  to  pursue  her  way  up  to  her  cham- 
ber,   where   she    threw   herself    down   upon 


164  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

her  bed,  feeling  quite  faint  witli  tlie  un- 
expected shock  which  liad  met  her.  It 
was  long  before  any  one  came  to^  her. 
By  and  by  she  heard  Millicent  stirring  in 
her  dressing-room,  and  called  to  her  to 
get   her  vinairjrctte. 

"  You  are  ill,  aunt,"  said  her  niece,  anx- 
iously, bathing  her  forehead.  *^  What  can 
I  do  for  you  ?  '' 

"It  is  nothing,  child,  only  a  faintness.  I 
want  to  sec  Frederick.  Can  you  contrive 
to  call  him  from  the  sitting-room  without 
disturbing   the    rest   of  the  company  ? " 

Millicent  did  not  know ;  but  she  went 
down,  to  oblige  her  aunt,  upon  her  errand. 
The  whole  flimily  were  assembled  in  the 
sitting-room,  Adele  turning  over  a  book; 
Augusta  her  head  bent  over  some  fine  em- 
broidery, with  which  she  affected  to  be 
busied ;  Mr.  James  with  a  paper  upon  his 
knee ;  Miss  Stuart  penning  a  note  at  a 
eide-table ;  Mr.  Stuart  and  Frederick  in 
conversation.  Millicent  had  to  wait  quite 
an    hour    before    an     opportunity     was     of- 


THE   INTERVIEW   IN   THE   LIBRARY.  165 

fered  to  her;  this  took  place  in  the  gen- 
eral movement  following  the  arrival  of  a 
visitor  from  the  neighborhood ;  she  turned 
to  Frederick  and  said  briefly  that  his 
mother  desired  to  see  him.  She  was  in 
her  chamber,  she  added,  where  she  had 
been   seized   with   a   little    faintness. 

"I  wonder  what  she  can  want  of  him," 
thought  MilHcent,  as  he  stepped  away; 
"  she  seemed  much  disturbed ;  something 
has  gone  wrong.  It  could  not  be  any- 
thing relating  to  herself  She  thought  of 
poor  Susan,  and  wished,  for  the  hundredth 
time,  that  she  could  hear  tidings  of  her 
safety. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

James's  departure. 

MR.  LEESOX  went  up  to  his  mother's 
chamber,  to  find  her  extended  upon 
her  bed,  evidently  suffering  severely  from 
a  nervous  attack.  She  motioned  him  to  a 
chair,   which    he    took   in   silence. 

"  I  have  heard  such  a  surprising  piece 
of  news  this  morning,"  she  said,  turning  her 
eyes  anxiously  upon  him,  "  I  cannot  be- 
lieve it  to  be  real.  Frederick,  have  you 
and  Augusta   quarrelled?" 

''  No,  madam,"  a  bright  spot  kindled  on 
her  son's  cheek,  "  by  no  means.  Augusta 
has  expressed  dissatisfaction  with  our  en- 
gagement ;  it  is  not  her  purpose  to  fulfil 
it,  and  I  have  given  her  back  her  prom- 
ise." 

166 


James's  departure.  1G7 

"Not  her  purpose  to  fulfil  it!"  Mrs. 
Leeson's  thin  hands  folded  anxiously  over 
each  other.  *'  What  will  become  of  your 
mortgage,  Frederick?  You  will  be  ru- 
ined ! " 

Mr.  Leeson's  color  deepened.  He  leaned 
back  in  his  chair  with  a  deprecatory 
movement.  "  My  dear  mother,  do  you 
suppose  I  am  -capable  of  urging  on  this 
matter  for  the  sake  of  obtaining  posses- 
sion of  my  cousin's  fortune  ?  I  assure  you 
I  have  no  desire  to  secure  her  hand 
without   her   heart." 

"  But  what  has  brought  about  this  sud- 
den change  ? "  Mrs.  Leeson's  voice  fal- 
tered a  little  in  the  question ;  her  eyes 
dropped  before  her  son's  penetrating 
glance.  It  was  plain  that  he  suspected 
his  brother's  unr\^orthy  part.  The  ques- 
tion  had   been    unwisely    put. 

"  There  is  little  account  to  be  made 
for.  a  lady's  fmcies,"  said  Frederick,  coldly. 
"I  will  not  pretend  to  explain  for  Augusta." 

"  Sbe    has    promised   to   marry    you,"    said 


1G8  MILLICKNT    IIALFURD. 

Mrs.  Leeson,  more  finnly ;  '*  the  engage- 
ment is  of  long  standing;  lier  guardian 
^vill    not    allow    her   to    break    her    promise." 

"Mr.  Stuart,"  said  Frederiek,  dryly,  'Ms 
acquainted  with  my  unfortunate  embarrass- 
ments. I  am  of  the  opinion  that,  if  the 
subject  were  to  come  up  in  discussion, 
this  fact  would  make  a  decided  change 
in    his   feelings    toward    me." 

"  How  could  they  have  come  to  liis 
knowledge?"  Mrs.  Leeson's  perplexity- 
deepened. 

Frederick  thought  only  of  one  way.  The 
brother  who  could  stoop  to  rival  him 
would  not  hesitate  to  take  the  dishonor- 
able part  of  an  informer.  His  deduction 
was  natural,  though,  as  the  reader  is 
aware,  wholly  unjust.  He  was  silent.  Mrs. 
Leeson  covered  her  face  with  a  deep- 
drawn  sigh.  The  position  of  aflairs  was 
deplorable  enough.  Frederick  was  right ; 
Mr.  Stuart  would  not  now  be  likely  to 
favor  the  fulfilment  of  his  ward's  engage- 
ment    contrary    to    the    lady's    wishes.      But 


James's  departure.  169 

wlieDce  could  the  information  have  been 
derived?  She  dismissed  the  fruitless  ques- 
tion  with    an    effort. 

The  dinner-bell  rang.  Frederick  got  up 
to  go  down  ;  he  saw  that  his  mother  was 
too  ill  to  make  the  effort  of  appearing  at 
table. 

"  Shall  I  send  Millicent  up  to  stay  with 
you?"    he   asked,  as   he    turned   to    go   out. 

"  No,  Frederick,"  she  answered ;  '^  I  wish 
to   be    alone." 

^'  He  knows  all,"  she  thought,  as  she 
leaned  her  head  back  upon  her  pillow. 
^'He  suspects  James's  falsen3ss.  What  can 
be  done  ?  There  will  be  an  open  quarrel 
between  them ;  Frederick's  blood  is  high 
when  once  aroused,  and  dangerous  conse- 
quences   may    come    about." 

If  she  could  only  get  James  back  to 
Bowling  Green,  then  slie  would  have  time 
to    think    of  other   matters. 

"  I  must  see  him  alone,"  she  mused  ; 
"but  how  shall  I  get  the  opportunity? 
His     own    sense     of    propriety    should    tell 


1  <()  MIMJri:XT    IIALFOKD. 

liim  that  he  can  bo  no  longer  a  welcome 
guest   under   his    brother's    roof." 

Mrs.  Leeson  might  ])ave  spared  herself 
a  portion  of  her  anxieties,  had  slie  been 
aware  that  this  impression  had  actually  en- 
tered her  son's  mind,  and  that  he  had  set- 
tled on  the  following  morning  for  his  de- 
parture. It  was  hard  to  part  from  his  new 
love  under  such  circumstances,  —  hard  to 
lessen  even  the  short  time  they  were  at 
liberty  to  spend  togetlier;  but  the  fitness 
of  things  plainly  required  this  course.  Fred- 
erick's manner  toward  him  had  undergone 
a  marked  change,  and  it  was  evident  that 
his  suspicions  had  seized  upon  the  part  he 
had    taken    in    breaking  his  engagement. 

Mrs.  Leeson  was  too  ill  to  leave  her 
chamber  for  the  evening,  and  in  the  morn- 
ing, James,  who  had  arranged  to  stait  by 
the  early  train,  on  learning  that  his  mother 
was  awake,  sent  up  his  adieus  by  Milh'cent. 
A  gloomy  depression  hung  over  his  solitary 
breakfast.  The  rest  of  the  household  had 
not  made  their  appearance  from  their  cham- 


JAJilES'S    DEPAKTUPtE.  171 

bers.  He  wondered  if  he  should  catch  a 
glimpse    of  Augusta   on   passing   out. 

Jim  was  already  in  waiting  with  the  car- 
riage. The  hand  of  his  watch  on  the  table 
beside  him  was  approaching  eight,  and  he 
had  reason  to  hurry  his  departure.  He 
went  to  the  window  and  looked  out.  The 
bare,  brown  earth,  the  frozen  carriage-path, 
and  a  cluster  of  bare  sycamores  were  all 
that  the  prospect  presented.  He  turned  to 
the  table  and  took  up  his  watch.  At  that 
instant,  Augusta  entered  by  the  opposite 
door.  Her  face  was  pale  and  her  eyes 
heavy.  James  hurried  up  to  her  and  took 
her   hand. 

"  I  could  not  go  without  seeing  you," 
he  said.  "You  will  allow  me  to  write  to 
you  ?  " 

Slie  murmured  a  scarcely  audible  yes. 
She  could  not  do  without  his  letters,  though 
they  might  bring  about  a  discovery  with 
Mr.  Stuart  at  an  earlier  period  than  she 
desired. 

"Carriage  be  waiting,  mas'er,"  said  Jim, 
showing    his    ebony   face    at   the    door. 


172  MILLK  KNT    IIALFORD. 

"  You  will  be  late  fur  the  train,  James," 
said  Miss  Stuart,  making  her  appearance 
from  the  liall ;  and  with  a  hurried  good- 
by  to  his  cousin,  and  a  dismal  depression 
upon  his  spirits,  quite  the  contrary  of  his 
usual  easy  cheerfulness,  the  young  man  hur- 
ried out.  He  had  been  spared  a  meeting 
witli  Frederick;  he  w^as  thankful  for  tliat; 
but  the  wrong  he  had  done  him  in  this 
moment  of  departure  certainly  pressed  upon 
his  conscience.  It  was  not  a  principle  of 
fear;  he  knew  of  no  point  on  which  he 
could  be  found  vulnerable  to  Frederick's 
revenge ;  but  he  felt  that  lie  had  violated 
the  code  of  honor  in  which  all  Kentucky 
gentlemen  are  reared.  He  had  not  done  it 
deliberately.  A  moment  of  temptation  had 
found  him  unprepared,  and  all  these  after- 
consequences  had  followed  as  a  matter  of 
course. 

'^  I  have  gone  too  far  to  retract,"  he  pon- 
dered, turning  his  eyes  from  the  bleak  pros- 
pect that  lay  along  the  carriage  road.  "Au- 
gusta's happiness  is  bound  up  in  this  mat- 
ter  as   fully  as   mine," 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

DEPARTURE   OF   GUESTS. 

DURING  the  remaining  week  of  her 
guests'  stay,  Mrs.  Leeson  did  not  leave 
her  chamber.  The  shock  she  had  received 
had  brought  on  a  severe  illness.  The  doc- 
tor was  sent  for,  and  prescribed  medicines 
which  were  powerless  to  cure  a  diseased 
mind.  Where  was  the  money  to  come  from 
which  should  lift  the  new  mortgage  from 
Wheatley  Place?  was  the  constantly-recur- 
ring question  which  haunted  the  sick  wo- 
man's pillow.  She  well  knew  the  character 
of  the  security  upon  which  Frederick's  new 
loan  must  have  been  advanced.  It  mattered 
httle  how  near  or  how  distant  was  the  day 
of  repayment;  it  must  eventually  be  met. 
"  What   are   your  plans,  Frederick  ? "    she 

17^ 


174  ilJLLlCKM    llALl'ORD. 

asked  one  morning,  loi)king-  up  at  lier  son, 
who  had  fallen  into  a  fit  of  reflection  by 
her  pillow.  It  was  his  daily  custom  to  make 
her  a  short  morning  visit,  which  on  this 
occasion  had  been  prolonged  by  her  re- 
quest. 

Frederick  started.  "  To  what  do  you  re- 
fer,   madam,  —  to   what    plans?" 

*' This  new  mortgage,  —  when  is  it  to  be 
met?" 

The  son  looked  down  at  his  mother.  It 
was  eas}^  to  read  now  the  secret  of  her 
haggard   face    and    wretclied    nigiits. 

"I  have  given  very  little  thought  to  the 
matter,"  he  answered.  ^'  The  mortgage  falls 
due  in  about  six  months.  I  presume  some 
way    can    be    found    of  meeting    it." 

"But   how?" 

"  A  sale  of  the  rest  of  the  negroes,  the 
horses  and  carriage,  if  no  better."  Fred- 
erick turned  away  his  fice  uneasily  from 
her  questioning.  ''  Do  not  let  this  matter 
troul)le  you,  mother;  it  will  be  arranged 
well" 


DEPARTURE   OF   GUESTS.  175 

^'Our  guests  leave  us  to-morrow,"  said 
his  mother;  "Miss  Stuart  told  me  so  last 
evening." 

Frederick's  face  was  still  averted ;  he 
manifested   no   interest   in   the    information. 

"You  have  not  spoken  with  Mr.  Stuart?" 
hazarded   his    mother. 

"Upon  what  subject?  Augusta?  No;  I 
left   the    explanations    to   the   lady   herself." 

Mrs.  Leeson  sighed.  She  well  knew  the 
hopelessness  of  looking  for  any  change  in 
that   quarter. 

Frederick  went  out,  and  in  about  an 
hour  after,  Augusta  made  her  appearance. 
Her  visits  to  her  aunt's  sick-chamber  were 
narrowed  into  the  smallest  limits  that  pro- 
priety would  admit;  and  it  may  as  well  be 
confessed  that,  but  for  the  question  of  out- 
ward proprieties,  they  would  have  been 
gladly    dispensed    with    upon   both    sides. 

"  You  are  looking  better  this  morning. 
Aunt  Leeson,"  observed  Augusta,  taking 
the  chair  which  Millicent  placed  for  her, 
without   any    acknowledgment    of    her    cour- 


176  MILLICEXT    HALFOTID, 

tesy,  and  contemplating  lier  annt's  fluslied 
face,  to  which  her  conversation  with  her 
son    had    imparted   a   transient    glow. 

"  I  am  very  little  better,  Augusta," 
said  Mrs.  Leeson,  turning  away  her  face. 
"  Miss  Stuart  tells  me  that  you  return 
home    to-morrow.'^ 

Such  were  their  arrangements,  the  young 
lady  replied. 

Mrs.  Leeson  considered  the  subject  of 
her  next  remark.  Would  it  answer  any 
purpose?  It  would,  at  all  events,  be  free- 
ing her    mind    of  a    duty. 

'^  My  dear,  I  am  sorry  to  observe  the 
state  of  feeling  between  you  and  Fre  ler- 
ick,"  she  hazarded.  '^  He  tells  me  that  you 
have  seriously  proposed  to  him  the  break- 
ing of^your  engagement."  Augusta  moved 
uneasily  in  her  chair.  She  w^as  quite  un- 
prepared for  this  attack.  '^  Have  you  con- 
sidered the  subject?"  her  aunt  went  on, 
—  '^  the  length  of  time  you  have  been  be- 
trothed to  Frederick,  and  the  injustice, 
not   to    say    cruelty,    of    indicting   this   mor- 


DEPAETURE    OF   GUESTS.  177 

tification  and  pain  upon  a  deserving  and 
honorable  man?" 

"  1  do  not  love  Frederick/'  said  Augusta, 
speaking  up  with  an  effort.  "  I  should  be 
doing  him  a  great  injustice  in  marrying 
him  under  such  circumstances.  There  are 
plenty  of  ladies  who  would  be  eager  to 
appreciate  his  fine  qualities  and  attractions, 
which   are   quite   lost   upon   myself." 

"  But  the  right  of  inflicting  this  pain 
and   mortification  ? "   persisted   Mrs.    Leeson. 

"Has  not  Frederick  told  you,"  asked 
Augusta,  facing  her,  "the  circumstances 
under  which  our  engagement  has  been 
broken    off?" 

"  Because  of  his  embarrassed  affairs,"  as- 
sented Mrs.  Leeson,  —  "a  circumstance  to 
which  no  true  woman  would  cast  a  mo- 
ment's thought.  There  is  a  stronger  rea- 
son which  influences  you,  Augusta,  —  one 
quite  contrary  to  this."  Augusta's  head 
drooped;  spite  of  her  efforts,  a  bright 
color  came  up  into  her  cheeks.  "  An  en- 
gagement of  such  long  standing  as  yours," 
12 


178  MILTJCEXT    IIALFORD. 

resumed  her  aunt,  '  to  every  trnthful  mind, 
should  hold  the  sacredness  of  a  marriage. 
No  faith,  no  trust,  can  be  safely  placed  in 
a  man  who  would  counsel  a  woman  to 
break   such    a   promise." 

"  I  have  taken  my  own  judgment  in  the 
matter,  aunt,"  said  Augusta,  coldly;  '^  no 
one  has   influenced   me." 

Mrs.  Leeson  drew  a  weary  sigh.  It  was 
hopeless  to  go  on  talking.  Augusta  rose, 
under  the  pretence  of  arranging  her  disor- 
dered  pillows,   and   shortly   went   out. 

On  the  morrow  the  guests  left  Wheat- 
ley  Place,  Mr.  Stuart  still  in  ignorance  of 
the  consummation  brought  about  by  this 
ill-chosen  visit.  At  parting,  he  gave  a  cor- 
dial invitation  to  Frederick  to  make  an 
early  visit  to  Tudor  Hall,  which  was  re- 
peated by  his  sister.  Frederick  answered 
courteously,  and  without  trusting  himself 
with  a  glance  at  his  embarrassed  and  silent 
cousin.  She  might  retain  her  secret  as  long 
as  she  chose,  he  thought ;  it  was  a  part 
of   the    duplicity     of    her    character.      How 


DEPARTURE   OF   GUESTS.  179 

could  he  ever  have  fancied  that  he  loved 
her?  Yet  such  feelings  are  not  subdued 
at  once.  There  was  still  a  lingering  ten- 
derness toward  her  in  the  depths  of  his 
wounded  heart.  It  would  die  its  natural 
death   sometime;   but   not   to-day. 

"Missus  has  got  someting  on  her 
mind,"  said  Dinah  to  Milb'cent,  the  latter 
having  found  her  way  into  the  old  ser- 
vant's good  graces  in  the  long  weeks  of 
Mrs.  Leeson's  sickness.  "  She's  a-worrying 
'bout  Mas'er  Frederick;  Miss  Augusta  has 
broke   her  word   to  him." 

"How  do  you  know,  Dinah?"  asked  Mil- 
licent,  in  much  surprise.  She  was  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  fact  of  the  engagement, 
which,  indeed,  was  the  property  of  all  the 
household,  being,  in  Mrs.  Leeson's  eyes, 
before  the  events  of  the  last  week,  as 
fully    settled   as   anything   in    fate. 

"I  heard  missus  say  so,"  said  Dinah, 
with  a  httle  hesitation.  "I  came  into  de 
dressing-room  for  someting  while  she  was 
argufying  wid  Miss  Augusta.     Miss  Augusta 


180  MTLLICENT   IIALFOHD. 

wouldn't  hear  any  reason.  It's  clear  broken 
off,  —  a    great    blow    to    missus." 

"  You  shouldn't  have  stopped  to  listen, 
Dinah,"    said    Millicent,    disapprovingly. 

"  I  didii't,  Miss  Halford ;  the  words  camo 
close  to  my  ears.  I  didn't  know  Miss  Au- 
gusta   was    in    with    missus." 

"How  could  she  refuse  him?"  thought 
Millicent,  wonderingly.  In  her  eyes,  Mr. 
Frederick  Leeson  was  the  ideal  of  an  at- 
tractive  and   thorough   gentleman. 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE  POLITICAL   HORIZON  THICKENING. 

THE  closing  month  of  winter  wore  away ; 
the  long  spring  days  came  round.  Mrs. 
Leeson  came  down  from  her  close  chamber 
in  the  mild  April  mornings  to  sit  at  the 
open  window  over  the  veranda,  to  listen 
to  the  songs  of  the  birds,  and  watch  the 
springing  grass  of  the  lawn  and  the  open- 
ing buds  of  the  garden,  in  the  luxurious 
quiet  of  convalescence.  Two  little  months 
had  wrought  upon  her  the  outward  work 
of  a  dozen  years :  her  thick  black  hair  had 
become  heavily  silvered,  her  smooth  brow 
taken  the  tracery  of  long  lines  of  care, 
and  her  step  grown  weak  and  uncertain. 
She  bore  no  longer  the  appearance  of  a 
woman  in  the  full  prime  and  vigor  of  life, 
but   of  one   fast   falling   toward   age. 

181 


182  MTLLICEXT    HALFOKD. 

"  It  is  James's  work,"  she  pondered,  one 
morning,  taking  a  long,  son-owful  gaze 
at  herself  in  her  mirror.  "  Wliere  will  it 
stop?"  She  had  received  no  letters  from 
the  younger  son  since  his  return  to  Bowl- 
ing Green,  —  a  silence  altogether  unusual, 
James  felt  that  he  had  acted  unworthily, 
and  could  have  little  doubt  upon  his  moth- 
er's   state    of  feeling  upon    the   subject. 

May  was  now  at  hand.  The  wheat-fields 
were  sown ;  the  ordinary  labors  at  Wheat- 
ley  Place  performed.  Mrs.  Leeson  pondered 
anxiously  over  the  question,  What  hands 
would  gather  in  the  green  springing  crops? 
The  mortgage  would  fall  due  in  July ;  all 
the  negroes,  with  the  exception  of  the 
house-servants,  must  be  sold  to  meet  it. 
Frederick  was  hopeful  of  raising  another 
loan ;  but  various  circumstances  were  con- 
curring to  defeat  him.  Among  the  most 
prominent  of  these  was  the  disordered  state 
of  the  country,  created  by  the  steadily- 
looming  trouble  with  the  Xorth.  The  war 
bad   indeed  opened ;    a  long  array  of  States 


THE   POLITICAL   HORIZON  THICKENING.     183 

Lad  passed  out  of  the  Federal  Union,  and 
Kentucky  stood  hesitating  on  the  ground 
of  an  assumed  neutrality,  which  all  clear- 
minded  men  saw  it  would  be  out  of  her 
power  to  hold.  Large  companies  of  her 
young  men  were  already  forming,  eager 
to  take  a  part  with  the  neighboring  States 
in  the  coming  struggle,  and  Frederick  in- 
cidentally learned  that  his  brother,  quitting 
for  the  time  the  practice  of  his  peaceful 
profession,  had  accepted  a  captain's  com- 
mission in  a  mounted  troop,  and  would 
shortly  be  on  his  way  south  to  join  the 
Confederate  armies.  His  admission  to  the 
bar  had  taken  place  in  the  first  of  March. 
When  this  intelligence  was  received,  it  was 
close  upon  June.  Frederick  did  not  think 
it  necessary  to  impart  his  information  to 
his  mother.  In  her  feeble  state  it  would 
cause  her  no  little  anxiety ;  and,  besides, 
James's  name  was  now  tacitly  withheld"  be- 
tween  them. 

The   time  was   approaching  when   Freder- 
ick must   choose    his    politics,  and  make  his 


184  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

decision  upon  wliich  side  he  would  he 
found  in  the  conflict.  His  neighbors,  with 
a  very  few  exceptions,  had  early  chosen. 
Slaveholders,  for  the  most  part,  it  was 
no  matter  for  wonder  that  they  should 
side    with   the    South. 

"  Neutrality  cannot  be  considered  for  a 
moment,"  was  the  general  voice  in  this 
southern  section  of  the  State.  "  Those 
who  are  not  with  us  are  against  us." 
And  two  men  of  fair  property  and  re- 
spectability were  signalled  out  as  objects 
of  mob  violence, — a  little  of  which  put 
in  action  might  act  as  a  salutary  hint  to 
lukewarm  friends  of  the  cause,  or  to  those 
who,  like  Frederick  Leeson,  were  sus- 
pected  of  halting   between    two   opinions. 

Mr.  Bennet  was  the  first  of  these.  A 
native  of  one  of  the  New  England  States 
by  birth,  settled  for  rather  more  than  the 
space  of  a  dozen  years  on  the  soil  of 
Kentucky,  it  was  natural  that  the  subject 
of  his  political  opinions  should  be  regarded 
with    suspicion  ;     and    this   feeling   was    des- 


THE   POLITICAL   HORIZON  THICKENING.     185 

fined,  imfortunately,  to  be  soon  increased 
by  some  careless  remarks  which  dropped 
from   him   upon    two   or   three   occasions. 

The  committee  of  vigilance  which  had 
been  secretly  formed  met  in  council.  A 
night  visit  to  his  house  was  decided  up- 
on, and  an  invitation  was  conveyed  to  Mr. 
Leeson   to   make   one   of  the    party. 

It  was  in  his  home  that  the  message 
reached  Frederick,  as  he  sat  in  his  sitting- 
room  alone,  the  low  windows  open  to  the 
scent  of  the  red  June  roses  and  clamber- 
ing  honeysuckles    outside. 

Mr.  Findley  recapitulated  briefly  two  or 
three  of  Mr.  Bennet's  incendiary  sayings, 
and  commented  upon  the  effects  which 
such  a  course,  if  unchecked,  would  be 
likely   to   produce. 

"It  will  be  hard  for  his  family,"  ob- 
served Frederick,  with  the  air  of  consid- 
ering the  matter  of  the  arson.  "  Mrs. 
Bennet  is  ill,  I  hear,  and  there  are  two 
little   girls,   beside   Miss   Bennet." 

"  The  family   will   easily   find    shelter ;   no 


186.  MTLLTCEXT    IIALFORD. 

harm  is  meant  for  them,"  said  Fiiiflley,  in- 
differently. ''  Bennet  will  be  likely  to  be 
shot  down,  if  he  makes  resistance  to  the 
destruction  of  his  property ;  but  that's  of 
no   account." 

Frederick  was  not  shocked  —  at  all 
events,  little  surprised  —  at  this  last  an- 
nouncement. Blood  was  alread}'  beginning 
to   flow   in   these    quarrels. 

"  I  cannot  join  you  to-night,"  he  said, 
answering  aloud,  "  for  a  plain  reason.  ^M}' 
state  of  neighborhood  with  ^Ir.  Bennet  is 
not  altogether  a  pleasant  one ;  some  hard 
feelings  have  grown  up  between  us  on 
matters  of  business ;  and  if  I  were  to 
make  one  of  your  party,  it  would  be,  to 
appearances,   to  gratify  a    personal    grudge." 

Findley  laughed  a  low,  short  laugh. 
^'  This  is  your  reason  for  declining,  Mr. 
Leeson?  " 

''  I  cannot  find  a  better,  sir.'*  Frederick 
spoke    with    calm    courtesy. 

Findley  got  up  to  go.  "  I  suppose  it  is 
useless    to    urge    you,"    he    said,    "  as    you 


THE   POLITICAL   HORIZON   THICKENING.     187 

seem  to  be  decided ;  but  I  don't  know 
how  this  r(?fusal  will  be  received.  People 
say,  Mr.  Leeson,  that  you  are  a  little 
lukewarm  in  the  cause.  It's  bad  for  any 
man  to  lie  under  suspicion  in  these 
days.  I  am  telling  you  the  fact  as  a 
friend." 

"  I  am  obliged  to  you,"  said  Frederick, 
coldly.  He  got  up  to  open  the  door  and 
show    out   his    unwelcome    guest. 

The  twilight,  with  a  breath  of  wind 
which  swept  by,  rustling  the  leaves  of  the 
rose- vines  at  the  instant,  hid  the  move- 
ments of  a  slight,  dusky  figure,  which 
glided  off  the  veranda  and  disappeared 
through   the  open  side-door   into  the   house. 

Rose,  full  of  a  troubled  curiosity  — 
which  had  possessed  her  ever  since 
the  evening  of  poor  Susan's  sale,  and 
the  knowledge  of  her  master's  embar- 
rassments, which  had  got  to  her  ears 
by  overhearing  her  mistress'  talk  —  to 
know  the  errand  of  her  master's  visitor, 
had   found    a    listening    place     outside     the 


188  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

window,  and  gathered  tlie  most  of  tlie 
conversation    after    tlie    first   few    sentences. 

"  Poor  Mas'er  Bennet ! ''  she  exclaimed, 
bursting  into  the  kitchen,  wliich  happened 
to  be  tenanted  by  Lizzie.  "  What  does  you 
tink,  Lizzie?  Dey  be  going  to  burn  down 
his  house  to-night,  and  shoot  him  like  a 
dog !  " 

"  You  go  'way,"  said  Lizzie,  turning  an 
incredulous  eye  on  her  dusky  fellow-ser- 
vant. "  You're  jest  trying  to  make  me 
b'lieve    some    great   tings,   dat's   all." 

'^  It's  true,  Lizzie,  ebery  word.  I  lis- 
tened and  heard  mas'er  talk.  I  was 
crouched    up   on   de   veranda." 

"  What  has  happened,  Rose?"  asked 
Millicent,  who  came  in  at  the  moment, 
stopping  short  at  sight  of  the  two  dis- 
mayed   faces. 

Each   hesitated   to   tell   her. 

"  It's  'bout  Mas'er  Bennet,  Miss  Halford," 
said  Lizzie,  speaking.  "  Rose,  she  heard 
Mas'er  Frederick  say  they  was  going  —  a 
gang     of    'em    white     gemmen  —  to     burn 


THE  POLITICAL   HORIZON  THICKENING.     189 

down    Mas'er    Bennet's    house    to-night   and 

shoot   him." 

Milhcent    turned    pale.       She    had    heard 
of  such   frightful    scenes   of    violence   more 
than   once  of  kite.     Only   yesterday  she  had 
listened,   with    horror,    to    the    details    of  a 
frightful   scene    not   three  miles   from  them, 
at^'a    pretty,     quiet    spot    which    she    had 
passed   in   a  spring   drive  with  Ad^le.     The 
cottage,    belonging    to    a    Union    man,    had 
been     burnt    down;     he    had    escaped,    by 
what    seemed    a    miraculous   accident,   with 
his   life  ;  but   his  wife  and   three   httle  ones 
had    been    turned    out    homeless    upon    the 
roadside,  to   be  cared  for   by  a  poor   neigh- 
bor,   who   had   little    but   a   crust   of   bread 
and  a   cup    of  water   to   offer. 

''This  is  dreadful!"  she  faltered;  "so 
near  us.  Can't  something  be  done  to 
warn   the   man?" 

She  spoke  aloud  to  herself  rather  than 
to  the  two  servants.  The  distance  to 
Valley  Farm,  Mr.  Bennet's  seat,  was  little 
more   than    half    a    mile,    a   distance    easily 


100  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

traversed  on  tlie  liigliway,  and  wliicli  conld 
be  made  bv  a  somewh;it  more  circuitous 
route  through  the  fields.  She  knew  very 
well  the  condition  of  the  family.  Mrs. 
Bennet,  a  sickly  woman,  was  just  getting 
better  of  a  recent  attack  of  fever.  The 
two  little  girls  were  aged  respectively 
eight  and  ten.  Miss  Bennet,  the  elder, 
who  occupied  the  relation  of  step-daughter 
to  the  present  Mrs.  Bennet,  was  an  at- 
tractive  young  lady    of  twenty. 

Millicent  roused  herself  to  ask  the  time 
set  for  the  attack ;  but  she  could  gain 
little  information  from  Eose.  All  she 
could  tell  was  that  the  party  were  then 
in  the  act  of  assembling  at  the  tavern, 
where  Mr.  Leeson  was  invited  to  join 
them ;  but  whether  he  had  accepted  or 
declined  this  invitation  the  girl  was  quite 
unable  to  determine,  her  master's  closing 
words   having   escaped   her. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

millicent's  loxely  walk. 

T  was  in  the  first  fall  of  the  twilight; 
the  stars  were  coming  out  dimly  over- 
head. The  first  half  of  the  night  prom- 
ised to  be  dark ;  at  precisely  two  the 
full  moon  would  make  her  appearance  in 
the    south. 

The  attack,  then,  w^ould  most  likely  begin 
at  an  hour  before  midnight.  Millicent  calcu- 
lated accurately.  At  that  hour  the  fimily 
would  be  in  their  beds,  unsuspecting  and 
unsuspicious.  Three  hours  would  be  an 
amply  sufficient  space  of  time  to  finish  up 
the  work,  and  to  scatter  in  a  secure  re- 
treat from  the  vicinity  of  the  smouldering- 
ruins.  Slie  would  have  ample  time  to 
warn    them    of    their    danger,    and    to    make 

lUl 


102  MILLICICXT    HALFOItn 

her  retreat  undiscovered.  It  required  cour- 
age ;  hut  we  know  that  the  most  timid 
can  nerve  themselves  to  action  under  tlie 
pressure  of  duty.  Supper  was  over.  Her 
aunt,  she  well  knew,  was  at  this  moment 
expecting  her  in  her  chamber,  where  it 
was  her  cusfom  to  spend  tlie  closing 
hours  of  evening,  reading  aloud,  in  con- 
versation, or  silent,  as  the  invalid's  varia- 
ble   mood   might   dictate. 

"  Adele  must  supply  my  place  to-night," 
she  thought,  gliding  up  the  staircase  to 
her  chamber.  Her  thin  muslin  dress  was 
soon  exchanged  for  one  of  thicker  mate- 
rial ;  her  bonnet  and  shawl  assumed,  and 
coming  down,  she  made  her  exit  unob- 
served, as  she  thought,  through  a  side- 
door,  and  glided  into  the  apple-orchard 
under    the    fiiendly    shadows    of    the    trees. 

A  heavy  dew  had  already  dampened  the 
tall  grass :  she  made  her  way  through  it 
as  rapidly  as  she  could,  keeping  in  the 
shadow  of  stone  walls  till  she  came  to  a 
part  of  the  road   which  must  necessarily  be 


mtlltcent's  lonely  walk.  193 

crossed  to  approach  the  borders  of  Valley 
Farm.  It  was  fortunate  that  slie  halted 
here ;  for  in  the  next  moment  a  man  on 
horseback  rode  slowly  past,  reining  in  his 
horse  to  a  short  walk  as  he  went  by 
with  more  of  the  tread  of  a  sentinel  than 
the  haste  of  an  equestrian  hieing  home- 
wards or  business-bound.  Millicent  waited 
breathlessly  till  the  echoes  of  his  horse's 
hoofs  died  away  around  the  angle  of  the 
road,  and  then,  rapidly  scaling  the  high 
wall  which  had  afforded  her  an  effectual 
concealment,  crossed  the  highway,  and 
clambered  into  the  wheat-field  upon  the 
opposite  side.  This  she  must  of  necessity 
cross  in  the  full  starlight,  and  she  quick- 
ened her  steps,  getting  within  the  shade 
of  a  friendly  sycamore  just  as  she  heard 
a  horse's  footfalls  returning  over  the  hard 
ground.  Most  likely  it  was  the  person 
who  had  passed  her  the  moment  before 
keeping  up  a  patrol,  to  prevent  informa- 
tion from  being  carried  to  the  doomed 
family.  He  went  slowly  past,  and  she 
13 


194  MILLICKNT    HALFOHD. 

nerved  lieiself  to  quit  her  i)lace  and 
creep    Imrricdly    on. 

The  field  was  traversed,  a  boundary  of 
fence  crossed,  a  fragrant-smelling  hedge 
passed,  and  she  found  herself  at  the  end 
of  her  walk.  The  air  was  odorous  with  the 
scents  of  flowers,  as  she  crossed  the  garden 
and  hurried  up  to  the  front  entrance.  A 
negro   woman    came    to    the    door. 

"Is  Mr.  Bonnet  in?"  Millicent  asked, 
hurriedly. 

"  No,   miss ;    he    went    out    an    hour   ago." 

jMilliccnt  felt  her  heart  sink  at  the  answer. 

"Mrs.   Bennet    then,  —  show    me    to  her." 

''  My  missus  is  sick,  ma'am.  She's  not 
able    to    see    company." 

Plainly  Millicent's  dress  and  appearance 
did  not  speak  in  her  favor.  "  v^ome  poor 
wliito  woman  come  to  beg,"  was,  no  doubt, 
the  servant's  conclusion.  "  It  wont  be  of 
any  use  for  her  to  see  missus ;  she  don't 
like    such  trash." 

''  Take  my  name  in  to  Miss  Bennet," 
said    Millicent,   despairing  of  gaining  admis- 


millicent's  lonely  walk.  195 

sion  in  her  nervous  agitation.  "  Tell  her 
Miss  Halford  wishes  to  speak  with  her  for 
a   moment." 

The  woman  went  in,  and  presently  re- 
turned,  bidding   Milhcent   to    enter. 

The  room  into  which  she  was  shown 
was  a  large,  handsome  parlor,  elaborately 
furnished,  and  well  lighted  by  a  solar  lamp, 
which  the  servant  had  just  set  down  upon 
the    slender    marble   table. 

Miss  Bennet  came  in  by  the  opposite 
door  as  Millicent  entered.  She  threw  a 
glance  of  some  surprise  at  her  visitor, 
placed  a  chair  for  her,  and  waited  to  hear 
her  errand.  Millicent  sank  down  into  the 
offered  seat,  and  began  nervously  to  loosen 
her  bonnet  strings ;  she  found  her  respira- 
tion suddenly  growing  difficult.  Each  mo- 
ment  might   be    of  inestimable    value. 

"  You  have  walked  fast,  Miss  Halford," 
observed  Miss  Bennet,  regarding  her  with 
wondering  attention.  '^  Has  anything  hap- 
pened at  Wheatley  Place?  Is  Mrs.  Leeson 
worse  ?  " 


196  MILLICKNT    IIALFOIil). 

"Mrs.  Lccson  is  well/'  said  Milliccnt,  ab- 
sently. "  My  errand  is  to  you,  or  to  your 
father,  rather.  A  night  attack  has  been 
phinned  upon  your  house ;  it  is  to  come 
on  in  a  few  hours,  and  I  have  come  to 
tell   you." 

Miss  Bennet's  warm  color  left  her  cheeks; 
she    trembled,   and  turned    white. 

"  Papa  must  be  told,"  she  said,  starting 
up.  "What  shall  we  do?  What  will  be- 
come   of  us?" 

"Is  Mr.  Bennet  at  home?"  asked  Milli- 
cent,  anxiously.  "The  woman  wdio  let  me 
in    said    he   was    out." 

"  He  has  come  back,"  said  Miss  Bennet, 
disappearing   through   the    door. 

Millicent  sat  in  anxious  suspense  for  sev- 
eral moments,  when  the  young  lady  reap- 
peared, and  desired  her  to  follow^  her.  She 
was  show^n  into  a  small  room  which  seemed 
applied  to  the  purposes  of  a  library  by 
the  hanging  cases  of  books  wdiieh  orna- 
mented its  walls.  Mr.  Bennet,  a  gray- 
headed   man,  sat   in   a  leather-covered  chair 


millicent's  lonely  walk.  197 

before  his  writing-desk,  a  half-written  sheet 
at  his  elbow,  his  pen  lying  beside  it,  ap- 
parently dropped  from  his  hand  at  his 
daughter's    entrance. 

"  Repeat  to  my  father  what  you  have 
told  me,"  said  Miss  Bennet,  placing  a  chair 
for  her  visitor,  ^'  and  how  you  came  by 
your   knowledge."- 

"  Did  Mr.  Leeson  send  you  ? "  asked  Mr. 
Bennet,  bending  a  searching  look  upon  the 
young  girl.    . 

Was  her  errand  doubted?  Millicent  felt 
quite  faint.  '^  No,  sir,"  she  said,  hurriedly ; 
"  one  of  the  servants  overheard  the  talk. 
The  company  are  now  at  the  tavern  form- 
ing, and  they  sent  to  ask  Mr.  Leeson  to 
join   them."- 

The  girl's  pale  face,  coupled  with  her 
agitation,  told  powerfully  for  the  truth  of 
her    words. 

Mr.  Bennet  -dropped  his  face  upon  his 
hand^!  with  a  groan.  It  was  easy  to  see 
what  was  passing  in  the  man's  thoughts. 
How   should    he   get   away   his  family,  —  his 


198  MILLICENT    IIALFOHD. 

sick  wife  and  two  little  girls,  not  to  think 
of  the  labors  of  years  wasted  in  one  wan- 
ton  hour? 

"  There  can  be  no  time  to  lose,  fatlier," 
said  Miss  Bennet,  speaking  with  sudden 
resolution.  "  I  must  go  up  and  break  it  to 
mother." 

^^  I  have  but  two  rusty  fowling-i)ieces  in 
the  house,"  said  Mr.  Bennet,  uncovering 
his  face,  "and  no  ammunition.  \i^  I  had 
the  means,  I  would  arm  my  negroes,  and 
give  these  men  a  warm  reception.  What 
a  fool  I  was  not  to  expect  this !  But 
what   have    I    done  ? " 

He  might  well  ask  himself  that  question, 
and  so  might  many  anotlier  unfortunate 
man. 

"  Where  shall  we  go  ? "  said  his  daugli- 
ter,  stopping  and  facing  him  suddenly,  as 
she  turned  to  go  out.  ''  It  will  be  death 
to  mother  to  be  exposed  to  this  damp 
niglit    air." 

'•  The  road  is  watched,"  said  Millicent. 
"  I    had    difficulty    in    getting    across." 


millicent's  lonely  walk.  199 

"Then  they  will  soon  be  here/'  said  Mr. 
Bennet,  rising.  <^  Go  up  to  your  mother, 
Jane,  and  I  will  call  the  servants.  We 
must  get  together  what  little  we  can  to 
be    saved ;   that    will   be   very   little." 

"They  mean  to  shoot  you,  sir/'  said 
Millicent,  "if  they  find  you.  You  wont 
have   more    than   time   to    get    off.'-' 

Perhaps  some  such  thought  had  already 
struck  him.  He  began  to  unlock  his  sec- 
retary, and  to  take  out  his  papers  and 
monej^ 

Millicent  had  done  her  errand.  She  won- 
dered if  she  had  best  linger  to  afford  some 
further  assistance,  or  if  her  safety  required 
her  immediate  departure.  The  last  thought 
was  suddenly  checked  by  the  reappearance 
of  Miss  Bennet,  leading  her  mother,  whose 
ghastly  face  and  tottering  gteps  showed 
her  unfitness  for  the  brutal  scene  about 
to    be    inaugurated. 

"You  must  fly,  Harry!"  she  exclaimed, 
addressing  her  husband.  "  It  is  you  they 
want;    they   will   do  us   no  harm.     We  shall 


200  MILLICKNT   HALFORD. 

get   shelter  at  a  neighbor's.      Did   you   say 
the    road    was    watched,   young   hidy  ? " 

"Yes,    ma'am;    but    there    are    fields 
back    of  here    which    he    can    get  throu 

'*  Don't  stop  longer,  Mr.  Bennet,"  saic 
the  poor  wife,  wringing  her  hands :  "  they 
will  do  us  no  harm;  it  is  you  tliey  want. 
Do    go !     Every   minute    seems   an   age." 

What  could  tlie  poor  man  do?  With  the 
rapidfty  of  lightning,  his  thoughts  went  over 
his  situation,  —  the  uselessness  of  attempt- 
ing any  resistance,  the  spectacle  of  his  in- 
valid wife,  roused  from  her  bed  to  be 
turned  out  into  the  damp,  unwholesome 
night  air,  his  two  frightened  little  girls, 
whose  cries,  hushed  by  their  nurse,  came 
distinctl}^  down  the "  staircase  from  their  dis- 
tant  chamber. 

"  Mr.  Leavitt  will  not  refuse  us  a  night's 
;shelter,"  said  his  daughter,  speaking  hope- 
fully. '^  It's  not  very  far  for  us  to  go. 
Don't  stop  to  worry  any  longer,  father; 
they   will    be    here." 

To    hesitate    was   indeed   madness.      With 


millicent's  loxely  walk.  201 

a  fervent  grasp  of  his  daughter's  Imnd,  and 
an  agonized  look  at  his  wife,  Mr.  Bennet 
disappeared  in  the  hall,  and  in  the  next 
moment  Millicent  saw  his  figure  gliding 
over  the  lawn  at  the  back  of  the  house 
in  the  uncertain  starlight.  Her  mission  was 
finished ;  it  was  time  for  her  to  think  of 
her   return,    and    she    rose    to    go. 

"  We  cannot  find  words  to  thank  you, 
Miss  Halford,"  said  Miss  Bennet,  thinking 
with  a  shudder  of  the  lonesome  walk  to 
be  braved  by  the  young  governess.  "God 
will  bless  you  for  preserving  my  dear  fa- 
ther's  life!" 

"I  wish  I  could  do  more  for  you,"  said 
Millicent,  faintly,  as  she  returned  the  pres- 
sure of  the  hand  which  the  warm-hearted 
girl  had  laid  upon  her  arm.  If  she  could 
but  take  them  with  her  to  Wheatley  Place ; 
but  tliat  slielter  she  knew  t%  be  very  far 
out   of  her   power   to   offer. 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE    CONFLAGRATION. 

MILLICENT  recrossed  the  road  safely, 
•undisturbed  by  tlie  apparition  of  the 
rider  who  had  alarmed  her  an  hour  before; 
but  just  as  she  had  got  safely  over,  a 
buzz  of  suppressed  voices  stole  to  her  ear, 
and  she  became  conscious  that  footsteps 
were  approaching,  and  that  her  best  course 
was  to  lie  down  in  the  rank,  wet  grass  as 
much  as  possible  in  the  shadow  thrown  by 
the  wall.  The  moon  was  not  yet  up;  a 
long  four  hours  intervened  between  her 
rising.  Millioent  was  quite  safe  from  dis- 
covery ;  but  slie  could  not  still  the  quick 
beating  of  her  lieart  whicli  the  peculiarity 
of  her  situation  excited.  The  group  of 
passers-by    proved,   as    she    had    anticipated 

202 


THE   CONFLAGRATION.  203 

them  to  be,  tlie  party  at  the  tavern,  set 
out  at  this  early  hour  upon  their  errand 
of  arson   and   murder. 

It  might  have  been  that  Frederick  Lce- 
son's  refusal  to  join  them  had  been  con- 
sidered a  proof  of  sympathy  with  Mr.  Ben- 
net,  and  they  had  been  led  to  hurry  pro- 
ceedings from  a  fear  that  warning  w^oukl 
be    conveyed   to  him. 

Several  of  the  party  were  in  a  half-in- 
toxicated state,  and  Millicent  shuddered  at 
the  brutal  oaths  and  fiendish  maledictions 
which  reached  her  ears.  When  they  had 
passed  on,  and  the  spund  of  their  footsteps 
had  quite  died  away,  she  got  up  to  go  on. 
A  few  quick  steps  took  her  across  the 
fields.  She  glided,  with  a  sigh  of  relief, 
under  the  friendly  shadows  of  the  apple- 
orchard,  and  stepped  into  the  garden,  whose 
beds  sent  up  a  sweet  perfume.  Here,  to 
her  dismay,  in  turning  a  corner  of  the  ve- 
randa, she  came  upon  Frederick  Leeson. 

Both  stopped  short,  —  Millicent  with  a 
sudden  thrill  of  terror  at  the  discovery, 
Mr.   Leeson    in   complete    astonishment. 


204  MILTJCENT    nALFOKD. 

Witli  more  of  self-possession,  the  young 
lady  niiglit  have  attempted  to  pass  off  her 
nocturnal  excursion  as  a  ramble  in  the  fresh 
air;  but  the  suddenness  of  the  shock  quite 
took  away  the  power  of  speech,  and  she 
stood  still  with  downcast  eyes  and  quick- 
coming  breath. 

^'  Wiiere  have  you  been,  Millicent? "  in- 
quired Mr.  Leeson,  his  voice  betraying  a 
little  surprise,  while  his  eyes  took  in  her 
wet  dress  and  generally  embarrassed  atti- 
tude, which  showed  in  strong  eflect  under 
the   light   shed    from    the    opposite    window. 

"  I   have    been    to   walk,    sir." 

"  So  I  perceive.  If  not  too  intrusive, 
may  I  inquire  how  far  your  walk  ex- 
tended ?  " 

'^  I  must  beg  to  decline  answering,  un- 
less  you   insist,"    replied    Millicent. 

"  Certainly  not,"  said  Mr.  Leeson,  cour- 
teously, opening  the  door  at  the  same  mo- 
ment for  her  to  pass  in ;  but  a  shadow 
came  over  his  brow.  Was  it  possible  that 
his  visitor's   errand  could  have  come  to  this 


THE    CONFLAGRATION.  205 

young  lady's  ears,  and  that  she  had  started 
off  on  a  Quixotic  expedition,  to  warn  the 
threatened  family?  If  she  had  done  so, 
and  her  act  could  be  traced,  the  full  storm 
of  vengeance  would  descend  upon  his  head, 
and  Wheatley  Place  would  be  the  next 
dwelling  selected  to  become  the  theatre  of 
lawless  violence.  The  thought  was  not  new 
to  him.  He  was  well  aware  that,  if  he 
should  much  longer  persist  in  holding  aloof 
from  the  turbulent  majority  of  his  section, 
he  would  be  set  apart  as  a  doomed  man, 
and  his  home  be  most  likely  given  over 
to  destruction  and  pillage.  His  refusal  of 
to-night  to  take  part  in  these  cruel  pro- 
ceedings had,  no  doubt,  aroused  ill-feeling. 
It   became   him    to   be   wary  how   he  stood. 

Millicent,  glad  to  escape,  hurried  up  to 
her  chamber,  to  be  stopped  on  her  way 
by   an   imperative    call   from   Dinah. 

^^  Mistress  has  been  asking  for  you  this 
hour,   Miss   Halford.     She    says    come   in." 

Millicent  wavered,  but  had  no  choice  but 
to  obey. 


206  MILLICENT   IIALFORD. 

"  "Wliere  liave  yon  been,  Millicent?"  in- 
qnired  ^Irs.  Leeson,  looking  np  from  lier 
pillow.  "  Adcle  has  been  searcbing  fur  you 
everywhere." 

"How  wet  you  are,  Mi.>^s  Hal  ford  ! "  said 
Adele,  looking  at  her  cousin  by  the  full 
blaze  of  the  lamp.  "  Your  dress  is  com- 
pletely   draggled,    and    even   your    shawl ! " 

The  last,  with  her  bonnet,  lay  over  her 
arm.  Millicent  had  had  the  prudence  to 
divest   herself  of  them    before    coming   in. 

"I  have  been  ont  in  the  garden,"  she 
said,  speaking  quickly,  "  and  I  wandered 
from    there    out   into  the    field    below.'' 

"It  is  not  safe  to  be  out  in  these  times," 
said  Mrs.  Leeson,  shaking  her  head  disap- 
provingly. "  Don't  venture  again.  Bat  how 
came  you  to  loiter  so  lonsr?  You  must 
have    known    I   was    expecting   you." 

Millicent  stammered  something  of  tlie  still- 
ness and  beauty  of  the  evening,  and  went 
out,  with  her  aunt's  permission,  to  change 
her    dress. 

Mrs.  Leeson  asked  the  time  by  the  watch 


THE    CONFLAGRATION.  207 

when  she  returnee!.  It  Avas  nearly  eleven. 
A   little    exclamation    escaped    Aclele. 

"  How  conld  you  be  out  so  late  in  the 
dews,  Millicent  ?  "  said  her  aunt,  reprovingly. 
"Your    conduct   is   very    strange." 

"  I  did  not  dream  it  was  so  late,"  said 
Millicent;  and  the  remark  was  spoken  truth- 
fully. 

Adele  said  good-night  to  her  mother,  and 
went  up  to  bed.  Mrs.  Leeson  was  rest- 
less, and  desired  her  niece  to  sit  with  her 
an  hour,  and  read  from  a  book  which  she 
had   begun    on   the    previous    evening. 

Millicent  stilled  her  nerves  to  turn  back 
to  the  third  chapter,  and  commence  in  her 
usual  voice  the  monotonous  narrative  so 
widely  excelled  by  the  scenes  which  were 
opening  almost  within  view  of  their  peace- 
ful windows.  She  read  on  for  some  twenty 
minutes,  when  a  vivid  flame  of  light  shot 
up  in  the  western  sky,  and  presently  a 
broad  illumination  flashed  over  the  windows. 

"What  is  that?"  said  Mrs.  Leeson,  start- 
ing up.  "  A  fire  somewhere  !  It  must  be 
near   here.     Open   the  window." 


208  MILLICEXT   HALFOnn. 

s 

Millicent  obeyed.  The  crackling  of  the 
flames  was  distinctly  heard ;  Ijut  outside 
these  there  was  a  still  and  ominous  hush. 
Every  instant  the  illumination  seemed  to 
grow   more   vivid. 

"Where  can  the  fire  be?"  asked  Mrs. 
Leeson,    anxiously.     "  Call    Frederick." 

Millicent  hesitated.  She  had  not  heard 
Mr.  Leeson  go  up  to  his  room,  though  she 
had  listened  once  or  twice.  It  was  quite 
possible  that  at  the  last  moment  he  had 
started  to  make  one  of  the  party.  She 
hoped   not;    but  she   feared. 

'^Millicent!"   iterated   Mrs.    Leeson. 

She  got  up  to  obey  her.  "Do  you  wish 
to  see  him,  ma'am?  I  think  —  I  am  not 
sure  —  but   I    think   he    has    gone    out." 

"  At  tliis  time  of  evening !  Impossible. 
Call  him ;  I  wish  him  to  come  in  and  tell 
me  where  the  fire  seems  to  be.  It  is  very 
strange  it  should  be  so  still.  I'm  afraid 
it's  the  Chantilly  house-burning  over  again." 

Millicent  stepped  out,  and  knocked  lightly 
at    Frederick's    door.      As    she    had    antici- 


THE   CONFLAGRATION.  209 

patecl^  no  ansAver  came.  She  glided  down 
the  staircase.  At  the  instant  she  halted 
on  the  last  step,  the  object  of  her  search 
emerged  from  the  sitting-room.  Millicent's 
heart    gave    a  quick   bound   of  relief. 

"  Your  mother  is  much  alarmed,  Mr.  Fred- 
erick," she  said,  speaking  hastily.  "Will 
you  come  up  to  her?  She  is  anxious  to 
know   the   locality    of  the   fire." 

It  was  a  piece  of  information  that  Mil- 
licent  could  easily  have  given  her.  Mr. 
Leeson  had  this  impression  as  he  followed 
his  young  cousin's  footsteps  into  his  moth- 
er's  chamber. 

"Where  is  the  fire,  Frederick?"  asked 
Mrs.  Leeson,  anxiously,  removing  her  eyes 
from  the  brilliant  illumination  which  spread 
over  the  eastern  heavens.  "  It  seems  very 
near." 

"  It  shows  up  from  the  direction  of  Val- 
ley Farm,"  observed  Frederick,  quietly,  plac- 
ing himself  at  the  window.  "I  think  it 
must   be   Mr.   Bennet's   place." 

Mrs.  Leeson  drew  a  deep  breath.  "What 
14 


210  MILLTCENT    HALFORD. 

is  it,  Frederick,  —  an  incendiary  fire?  It 
can't   be    set   by    accident." 

"  It  bas  that  appearance,  madam.  From 
tbe  total  stillness,  tliere  would  seem  to  be 
no    attempts   to   put   it    out." 

"What  will  become  of  them?"  said  Mrs. 
Leeson.  "  Mrs.  Bennet  has  hardly  yet  got 
off  from  her  sick-bed.  She  will  take  her 
death   to    go    out   in   this    damp   night ! " 

Frederick  did  not  answer;  he  seemed  to 
be    watching    the    progress    of"  the    lire. 

"What  has  Mr.  Bennet  done?"  asked  his 
mother,  her  suspicions  confirmed  by  lier 
son's  silence.     "How  has  he  given  offence?" 

"He  has  been  too  free  in  liis  remarks," 
replied  Frederick,  still  keeping  his  face 
tnrnc<l  in  the  direction  of  the  fire.  "  Ilis 
New  England  birth,  and  the  fact  that  he 
is  a  stranger  among  us,  though  settled  here 
some  dozen  years,  has  made  him  an  object 
of  su>piciun." 

"'  What  a  terrible  state  of  things ! "  said 
Mrs.  Leeson,  shutting  her  eyes,  as  if  she 
would  gladly  shut  out  the  picture  of  wretch- 


THE   CONFLAGRATION.  211 

edness  and  suffering  that  the  crimson  sky 
brought  up.  ''  What  demon  has  entered 
into   these   men's   hearts  ?  " 

Below,  on  the  veranda,  Millicent's  down- 
ward glance  detected  the  servants  gathered 
in  various  positions,  watching  the  progress 
of  the  fire.  Dinah  and  Lizzie  had  joined 
them ;  Jim  was  distinctly  prominent  in  the 
foreground,  a  strange  expression  stamped 
upon  his  dark  face,  which  had  parted  with 
its  easy,  good-natured  expression  on  the 
morning  of  his  cruel  whipping.  Did  a 
voice,  unheard  b}^  the  curious  group  around 
him,  whisper  in  his  ear  that  this  picture 
upon  which  his  eyes  rested,  —  this  midnight 
work  of  man's  cruelty  and  wrong,  was  ouq 
of  the  million  of  opening  scenes  whose  re- 
sults were  to  accomplish  the  liberation  of 
his   down-trodden   race  ? 


f 


CHAPTER     XXV. 

THE    FRIENDLY   WARNING. 

THE  conflagration  of  the  burning  house 
spread  to  the  servants'  outbuildings  and 
the  adjoining  barn,  and  did  not  die  out 
completely  until  near  daybreak.  The  birds 
were  beginning  their  morning  carol  when 
Millicent  laid  her  head  upon  her  pillow, 
and  tried  to  forget  the  incidents  of  the 
past  night  in  a  few  moments  of  fevered 
sleep. 

It  was  a  wear^Mooking  face  which  she 
took  down  to  the  breakfast-table  at  eight. 
Adcle  was  there,  fresh  in  her  happy  un- 
consciousness of  all  that  had  taken  place ; 
for  the  sweet  slumbers  of  youth  had  kept 
her  eyes  sealed  through  the  hours  of  wake- 
fulness and  watching  which  had  fallen  to 
others. 

212 


THE   FRIENDLY   WARNING.  213 

Mr.  Leeson  seemed  absent  and  preoccu- 
pied. This  was  usual  to  liim  of  late ;  he 
spoke  but  two  or  three  times  during  the 
repast,  and  when  it  was  ended,  he  took 
liis  hat  from  the  hall  table,  and  sauntered 
out  for  a  walk.  He  had  not  got  farther- 
than  the  extremity  of  the  garden,  when 
he  desci'ied  his  neighbor,  Mr.  Leavitt,  rid- 
ing slowly  past,  and,  as  he  slackened  his 
horse's  rein,  Frederick  hurried  liis  steps 
down  the  carriage-walk  to  join  him.  On 
several  accounts  tliis  meeting  was  desired 
upon  both  sides.  Upon  Mr.  Leavitt's  part 
it    could    hardly   be    said    to    be    accidental. 

"  I  was  setting  out  to  see  you,  Mr. 
Leavitt,"  observed  Frederick,  when  the 
brief  salutations  of  the  morning  were  over. 
"  My  mortgage,  I  remember,  falls  due  in 
little  more  than  a  fortnight.  I  confess  that 
I  am  sorely  pressed  for  the  means  to  meet 
it." 

*^  Give  yourself  no  anxiety,  Mr.  Leeson," 
said  Mr.  Leavitt,  good-naturedly.  ^'  I  will 
give   you   a  farther   extension   of  the   mort- 


214  MILLICENT    IIALFORD. 

gage,  if  you  desire  it.  The  security  is 
good.  Take  your  own  time  in  the  matter." 
.  Frederick  expressed  his  thanks.  The  re- 
lief was    certainly   a   very    great    one. 

"  You  saw  the  fire  last  night,  Mr.  Lee- 
sou  ? "  observed  Leavitt,  bending  a  search- 
ing glance  upon  his  friend.  ''  I  passed 
Valley  Farm  a  moment  ago ;  the  house  and 
out-buildings   are    a   heap   of  ruins." 

'•  A  bad  affair  for  Mr.  Bennet/'  observed 
Frederick,  speaking  in  a  careless  tone.  '*'  Do 
you    know   anything  of  the    particulars?" 

Leavitt  nodded.  "  I  was  one  of  the  party 
who  stood  by  and  saw  the  work  done," 
he  assented,  dropping  his  voice,  '^  though 
the  open  road  barred  the  possibility  of  a 
listener.  It  was  not  quite  of  my  choice; 
but  I  had  an  invitation,  and  did  not  think 
it  prudent  to  slight  it.  You  took  that 
risk,   I    understand?" 

''I  did,"  said  Frederick.  "But  what 
was  the  result  of  the  visit?  Was  any 
blood    shed?" 

"  Xo ;   the  family  seemed  to  have  received 


THE    FRIENDLY   WARNING.  2\5 

warniDg.  The  house  was  entirely  deserted; 
even  the  negroes  were  not  to  be  found, 
and  tlie  horses  had  been  taken  out  from 
the    stable." 

Frederick  looked  thoughtfully  down.  His 
suspicions  of  the  nature  of  his  .  cousin's 
night    walk    were    receiving    confirmation. 

Mr.  Leavitt  leaned  over,  and  placed  his 
hand  lightly  upon  his  friend's  shoulder. 
^'Mr.  Leeson/'  he  said,  *^  I  have  come  past 
here  this  morning  purposely  to  warn  you. 
I  am  sorry  to  say  that  your  refusal  to 
join  in  with  us  last  night,  coupled  with 
the  fact  of  Bonnet's  escape,  has  been  put 
under   a   bad    construction." 

"  I  cannot  say  that  this  news  takes  me 
by  surprise,"  replied  Frederick,  "though 
my  pai-t  has  been  entirely  free  from  inter- 
meddling. So  Wheatley  Place  is  to  be 
signalled  out  next?  In  a  lawless-growing 
community,  there  are  always  plenty  of  ex- 
cuses to  be  found  for  selecting  a  new  ob- 
ject   for    ra[)ine    and    violence." 

"You   speak  with  heat,  Mr.  Leeson,"   said 


216  MILLICENT    HALFDKO. 

Mr.  Leavitt,  soothingly.  ''  In  these  times, 
the  only  way  for  a  man  to  save  his  life 
and  propeity  is  to  go  with  the  strong 
party." 

"There  will  come  a  day' of  reckoning," 
said  Frederick,  in  a  suppressed  voice. 
"  When  the  first  terror  of  these  mob  days 
has  blown  over,  we  shall  see  where  Ken- 
tucky stands.  Her  legishiturc  lias  expressed 
itself  for  the  old  Union  against  the  dic- 
tates of  her  governor.  I  believe  it  has 
expressed    the    true    voice    of    her    people." 

*•'  I  beg  you  to  be  warned,  ^Ir.  Leesou," 
said  Leavitt,  drawing  in  his  reins.  *^  What- 
ever is  to  come  by  and  by,  we  are  under 
mob  rule  now.  I  have  done  a  friend's 
part  in  coming  to  caution  you.  I  can  go 
no  -farther." 

"  I  thank  you,  Leavitt,"  said  Mr.  Leeson, 
speaking  with  warmth.  "  You  have  done 
me  a  great  service.  If  these  gentlemen 
decide  to  pay  me  a  night"  visit  of  the 
character  they  gave  poor  Bonnet,  I  shall 
be    prepared    to    receive    them." 


THE   FRIENDLY   WARNING.  217 

Mr.  Leavitt  rorle  off,  and  Frederick 
turned  his  steps  slowly  back  in  the  direc- 
tion from  which  he  had  come.  Two  or 
three  unpleasant  considerations  pressed  up- 
on him,  —  what  were  his  means  of  resist- 
ance, should  his  house  be  attacked,  and 
what  would  become  of  his  feeble  mother 
in  the  excitements  and  dangers  of  such  an 
emergency?  For  the  first,  he  must  take 
the  noon  train,  and  set  out  for  the  nearest 
town  to  get  a  supply  of  ammunition,  and 
commence  privately  drilling  his  negroes ; 
for  the  second,  it  was  not  best  to  disquiet 
his  rnother  with  a  confession  of  the  state 
of  affairs,  but,  if  possible,  to  keep  her  in 
ignorance.  How  this  could  be  done  in  a 
house  peopled  with  loquacious  servants,  was 
certainly  a  question  of  some  moment.  It 
was  best  to  make  a  full  confidant  of  Mil- 
licent ;  her  position  in  the  household  had 
grown  to  be  one  of  no  small  importance, 
and  her  daring  conduct  of.  the  past  night, 
with  her  after-management  of  the  affair^ 
had  shown  her  to  be  possessed  of  both 
couraire   and    discretion. 


218  JIILLICEXT    UALKOKD. 

Mr.  Loesoii  proceeded  to  liis  lihrary, 
wliere  a  part  of  liis  in()riiiii<j;s  were  usually 
spent,  and  despatched  Rose  to  call  Milli- 
ceiit  from  the  schoolroom.  It  was  an  al- 
together unusual  interruption,  and  Adele 
looked  up  surprised,  while  Millicent's  vary- 
ing color  showed  a  variety  of  emotions. 
She  commanded  herself  to  desire  Adele  to 
continue  on  her  lesson,  and  went  down 
with  a  very  distinct  consciousness  of  some- 
thing unpleasant  awaiting  her.  Mr.  Leeson 
sat  in  his  leather-covered  library-chair,  with 
his  head  slightly  inclined  upon  his  hand, 
and  lines  of  thought  upon  his  brow  ;  but 
he  rose  at  her  appearance  to  place  a  chair 
for  her,  and  wdien  he  spoke  his  voice  had 
its   usual    slightly-subdued    tone. 

"  I  have  sent  for  you,  Milliccnt,  to  ask 
your  assistance  in  a  matter  which  I  feel 
unable-   to   fully   arrange    for   myself." 

Millicent  looked  up,  a  faint  glow  break- 
ing over  her  face,  which  rendered  it  for 
the    moment    positively    beautiful. 

Mr.    Leeson    was     struck    with     this    ob- 


THE   FrJEXDLY   WAl.XING.  219 

seiTation  at  the  instant.  He  stopped  for 
a   moment   before    he   went   on. 

"An  attack,"  he  resnmed,  "is  likely  to 
be  threatened  upon  Wheatley  Place,  with 
similar  results  to  those  of  the  scene  we 
watched  last  night.  I  shall  make  my  prep- 
arations to  meet  it.  It  is  of  tlie  utmost  im- 
portance that  the  danger  sliould  be  kept 
from  my  mother  in  her  present  weak  state. 
Will   you   undertake    to    do   this?" 

"  I  will,"  said  Millicent,  the  color  re- 
treating from  her  face.  "  But  are  you  sure, 
Mr.  Frederick,  —  are  you  quite  sure  there 
is    danger?" 

"  I    think    there   is ;    I    am    quite    sure." 

Millicent  hesitated ;  her  eagerness  con- 
quered her  dislike  to  put  a  question. 
"What  can  have  broiiglit  it  about?  You 
have    taken   no    part   upon    either    side." 

"  Precisely  this,  Millicent,  —  that  I  have 
taken    no    part    upon    either    side." 

"  Is  there  any  cause,  any  particular  rea- 
son given,  for  these  threats?"  she  asked, 
her  anxiet}^  getting  the  better  of  her 
timidity. 


220  MILLICKNT    HALFOKO. 

"My  relu.siil  to  join  in  the  liouse-ljiiruing 
of  last  niglit,  for  one,"  said  Mr.  Leeson, 
indifferently;  ^' but  my  position  lias  been  a 
source  of  dissatisfaction  to  the  vigilance 
committee,  as  tliey  are  styled,  for  some 
time."  He  paused,  as  if  there  was  some- 
tliing   more   he    was    about   to    add. 

Millicent   gave   him   an    anxious  attention. 

"I  shall  arm  my  negroes,"  he  pursued, 
"  and  teach  them  the  use  of  the  musket. 
I  am  a  tolerable  shot  myself.  A  few  well- 
directed  shots  would  put  a  dozen  of  these 
cowardly    night-robbers    to    fliglit." 

Millicent  doubted.  What  were  the  glid- 
ing bullets,  though  winged  with  death, 
amonji"   a    crowd   of  half-intoxicated   and    fu- 

o 

rious  men  ?  She  got  up  to  go ;  Mr.  Lee- 
son    had    finished    his    communications. 

"  It  is  not  necessary  to  tell  Adele,"  he 
observed,  as  she  paused  with  her  hand  up- 
on the  door  in  the  act  of  going  out.  "  We 
must   save   her    all    needless   alarm." 

Millicent  assented,  though  her  judgment 
did  not  quite  approve  this  part.     Slie  knew 


THE    FPwIENDLY   WARNING.  221 

her  pupil  better^  perhaps,  than  did  Fred- 
erick, and  felt  that,  with  a  little  prepa- 
ration, her  courage  could  be  relied  upon 
even   in   this    serious    emergency. 

How  often  we  find  ourselves  rising  su- 
perior to  the  circumstances  of  our  lives,  — 
courage,  resolution,  judgment,  developed, 
which  we  never  thought  ourselves  to  pos- 
sess !  If  any  one  had  told  Mr.  Frederick 
Leeson,  on  the  evening  on  which  he,  re- 
ceived his  shy,  silent  cousin  into  his  charge 
at  the  New  York  depot,  that  the  time 
would  come  in  less  than  a  year  when  he 
would  find  himself  depending  upon  her  co- 
operation in  affairs  involving  the  safet}^  of 
much  that  was  dearest  to  him,  he  would 
have  thrown  the  assertion  from  him  as  a 
romantic   impossibility. 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

MR.    LEESON'S    railway   RIDE. 

MR.  LEESOX  took  an  immediate  oppor- 
tunity of  acquainting  his  mother  with 
Mr.  Leavitt's  lenient  conduct  in  the  mat- 
ter of  tlie  mortgage,  an  opportunity  wdiicli 
he  seized  upon  in  the  hour  preceding  his 
setting   out   for   the    railway    station. 

Mrs.  Leeson  listened  vrith  emotions  of 
tlianklulness  and  relief,  which  were  a  lit- 
tle clouded  by  the  consciousness  that  tlie 
troublesome  question  was  only  temporarily 
put    oiF,    and    must   still    be    met. 

"  Negroes  bring  next  to  nothing  in  tlie 
present  state  of  troubles,"  observed  Mr. 
Leeson,  "  setting  aside  m}*  unwillingness  to 
part  with  them,  and  the  very  serious  in- 
convenience   the    step    would    create.       ^Iv. 

222 


MR.    LEESON's   railway   RIDE.  223 

Leavitt  can  afford  to  wait ;  and  by  the 
w^inter,  something  may  turn  up.  This 
state    of   things    cannot    go    on   for   long." 

"  The  meadow  lot  may  as  well  be  parted 
with/'  said  Mrs.  Leeson,  keeping  her 
thoughts  upon  her  son's  embarrassed  posi- 
tion. ''  It  is  hard  to  have  any  of  your  fa- 
ther's estate  go ;  but  I  see  no  other  way. 
We  must  sacrifice  a  part  to  save  the  re- 
mainder." 

Frederick  shook  his  head.  "  It  would  be 
nearly  impossible  to  find  a  purchaser  in 
these  times/'  he  remarked,  "  not  to  ob- 
serve that  the  lot  you  have  marked  out 
is  really  the  only  valuable  tillage  part  of 
the   farm." 

"  The  waste  fields  could  be  reclaimed 
under  proper  management/'  observed  his 
mother.  "  You  have  little  tact  for  fiirming, 
Frederick ;  but  your  poor  father  had  less 
before  you.  You  should  have  been  bred 
to  a   profession." 

What  had  it  done  for  James  ?  The  al- 
lusion   was    unfortunate.      Mrs.    Leeson   re- 


224  MILLICENT   IIALFOHD. 

membcred  it  too  late.  The  unpleasant 
news  which  her  eldest  son  had  kept  back 
from  her  had  reached  her  in  a  letter  from 
Miss  Stuart,  the  only  person  at  Tudor  Hall 
who  now  kept  up  relation  with  Wheatley 
Place.  It  had  not  been  Mr.  Stuart's  habit 
to  write,  and  all  continuance  of  intimacy 
between  Frederick  and  Augusta  had,  of 
course,  dropped  in  the  new  understanding 
of  things.  Miss  Stuart  had  alluded  to  the 
step  taken  by  James  under  the  impression 
that   it   was   fully   known    to    his   mother. 

"  It  might  have  been  as  well,"  observed 
Frederick,  breaking  the  awkward  pause  ; 
'•'  but  we  could  not  foresee  how  events 
would  turn."  He  pushed  back  his  chair, 
and  rose.  "  I  am  going  into  town,  mother. 
Have   you   any    commissions  ? " 

Mrs.  Leeson  did  not  think  of  any.  ''  I 
have  had  a  wretched  night,"  she  said,  go- 
ing back  to  her  personal  complaints. 
"  What  will  become  of  that  poor  fau^ily, 
Frederick?  I  hear  Mrs.  Bennet  is  likely 
to  have  a  relapse  of  fever.     They  have  ta- 


ken  shelter  with  poor  Mrs.  Crawford,  af- 
ter applying  to  one  or  two  places.  No- 
body  dared   to   take   them    in.'' 

"  It  is  a  hard  case/'  said  Frederick,  mus- 
ingly. "  Mrs.  Crawford  is  poor ;  it  is  next 
to  impossible  that  Mrs.  Bennet  can  get 
many    of  the    comforts   she   needs." 

"  Dinah  said  she  was  very  ill,"  observed 
Mrs.  Leeson ;  "  she  saw^  Mr.  Leavitt's  boy, 
Sam,  this  morning.  He  went  to  the  cot- 
tage on  an  errand  from  Mrs.  Leavitt.  Mrs. 
Crawford  had  taken  some  sewing  for  her. 
She  thought  Mrs.  Bennet  had  taken  to  be 
a  little   light-headed." 

"No  wonder,  with  her  trouble,"  said 
Frederick.  "  It  is  a  mercy  Bennet  got  off. 
I  hope  he  will  make  his  escape  out  of  the 
country.  If  he  should  be  so  rash  as  to 
hang  round  here  to  look  after  his  family, 
he   will  be    sure   to  be    taken." 

"  You  think  they  would  kill  him?"  Mrs. 
Leeson's   face  expressed   a   troubled    horror. 

"  We  have  heard  of  one  or  two  such  in- 
stances not  far  from  here,"  responded  Fred- 
15 


22G  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

erick.  "  Mr.  Bonnet  liua  made  himself  very 
unpopular,  and  by  liis  free  speaking  put 
bis   life   very    seriously    in   danger." 

"  Where  will  it  all  end  ? "  groaned  Mrs. 
Leeson.  '^  Wiiat  will  become  of  us  in  such 
a   state    of  things?" 

Frederick  went  out,  ordered  his  carriage, 
and   was    driven    over   to    the    station. 

The  train  had  not  come  in.  On  con- 
sulting his  watch,  he  found  himself  a  few 
moments  before  the  time,  and  began  to 
pace  leisurely  to  and  fro  upon  the  plat- 
form. Two  other  gentlemen  were  waiting, 
—  persons  of  his  acquaintance;  but  they 
gave  him  a  cool  good-morning,  and  seemed 
disposed  to  keep  out  of  the  range  of  his 
conversation. 

Presently  the  train  came  sweeping  up ; 
he  took  his  place  on  board,  and  was 
soon   whirling   rapidly   into    town. 

Conversation  flowed  freely  among  the 
passengers,  all  confined  to  one  subject,  and 
setting  in  one  direction.  Frederick  sat  si- 
lent,   only     answering    when     his     opinions 


MR.  leeson's  railway  rJDE.  227 

were  appealed  to.  A  grim  smile  parted  his 
lips  once  or  twice  as  he  listened.  The 
reign   of  terror   had    commenced. 

Could  he  have  thrown  a  glance  back  in- 
to his  mother's  chamber  on  his  railway 
ride,  he  might  have  seen  another  link 
threatened  in  the  chain  of  his  sudden  un- 
popularity. 

Mrs.  Leeson  was  discussing  with  Dinah 
the  propriety  of  loading  a  small  basket 
with  dehcacies  suited  to  the  needs  of  an 
invalid,  and  despatching  it  to  Mrs.  Bennet, 
whose  deplorable  condition  excited  her  sym- 
pathies more  acutely  than  it  might  have 
done,  had  she  been  herself  in  a  less  fee- 
ble  state. 

Millicent  stood  by,  warmly  seconding  the 
plan  in  her  heart,  but  not  daring  to  add 
her  mite  of  approval,  from  a  conscious- 
ness of  the  very  dangerous  mine  to  which 
this    httle    incident    might    set    the    spark. 

The  matter  was  finally  decided,  Dinah 
going  out  to  exercise  her  skill  in  the 
kitchen,  after  listening   to  her  mistress'  full 


i!l!8  MILLICENT   RALFORD. 

instructions  of  the  manner  in  wliich  to 
prepare  a  dish  of  blanc-mange,  and  Milli- 
cent  timidly  proffered  her  services  to  start 
on   the    proposed    errand. 

Mrs.  Leeson  demurred,  in  some  surprise. 
Dinah  could  take  over  the  basket  as  well, 
and  Millicent's  services  were  needed  in 
the  schoolroom,  where  it  may  as  well  be 
said  that  Adele  still  sat  conning  her  in- 
terrupted  lesson. 

^*  I  can,  perhaps,  bring  you  fuller  infor- 
mation of  Mrs.  Bennet's  state.  I  shall  be 
allowed  to  see  her,"  replied  Millicent, 
"  and  — "  she  hesitated,  '^  will  it  be  best 
for  Dinah  to  make  her  appearance  there? 
If  her  visit  should  come  out,  might  it  not 
turn   to   Mr.    Frederick's    disadvantage  ? " 

''  You  may  be  right,"  said  Mrs.  Leeson, 
giving  up  hurriedly  at  the  last  suggestion. 
"  But  how  will  you  contrive  to  escape  the 
same  share  of  observation  ?  As  one  of 
our  family,  I  cannot  perceive  the  differ- 
ence." 

"  I     shall     manage     my     approach     more 


ME.    LEESON'S   railway   RIDE.  229 

guardedly/'  said  Millicent,  "  and  I  shall 
beg  Mrs.  Crawford  to  keep  my  visit  a 
secret.  Since  she  has  courage  to  give 
them  a  shelter  in  their  need,  she  can  cer- 
tainly be   trusted   with  so   small   a   matter." 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

THE    HOMELESS    FAMILY. 

MILLICENT  did  not  set  out  inimodi- 
ately  upon  her  errand.  On  second 
thoughts,  she  dared  not  trust  herself  in 
the  garish  brightness  of  noonday,  but 
judged  it  best  to  wait  till  tlie  twilight 
should  render  her  face  and  figure  indis- 
tinct in  its  friendly  shadows.  It  was  a 
dangerous  experiment,  this  wandering  out 
at  nightfall ;  but  it  was  not  again  to  be 
repeated,  and  she  would  venture  this  once, 
trusting  to  a  keen  sight  and  a  superabun- 
dance   of  watchfulness. 

She  heard  the  distant  whistle  of  the  lo- 
comotive on  the  down  train,  which  was 
bringing  in  Mr.  Leeson,  as  she  stepped  out 
into  the  field    over  which  she  had   returned 

230 


THE   HOMELESS   FAMILY.  231 

the  past  niglit;  for  she  dared  not  trust 
herself  to  the  broad  highway.  Her  walk 
extended  farther  than  that  of  the  previous 
night,  and  the  road  had  to  be  crossed  twice, 
which   Avas    a   work   of  some   difficulty. 

"I  wish  I  had  taken  Dinah  with  me," 
was  her  secret  thought,  as  she  began  to 
consider  the  increased  darkness  which  most 
likely  would  shroud  her  return,  and  her 
very  uncertain  knowledge  of  the  localities. 
'^  What  shall  I  do,  if  I  should  get  lost,  and 
have  to  spend  the  night  in  these  fields  ? " 
Her  way  lay  past  Yalley  Farm,  the  spot 
she  had  visited  on  the  previous  night;  a 
heap  of  black  cinders  and  a  yawning  pit 
was  all  which  now  showed  where  the  house 
had  stood.  The  fragrant-smelling  hedge  was 
scorched,  and  stripped  of  its  green  leaves, 
the  odorous  beds  of  the  garden  trampled 
down  into  promiscuous  heaps.  Millicent 
sighed  as  she  looked  at  the  work  of  des- 
olation, made  more  dismal  in  the  uncer- 
tain light  flickered  from  the  stars,  and 
hurried    on.      A    second    time    she    crossed 


232  MILLICEXT   nALFORD. 

the  road,  wliich  now  wound  to  the  back 
of  Valley  Farm,  without  accident,  and  be- 
gan to  climb  the  green  slope  which 
stretched  up  the  hill,  under  whose  base 
stood  Mrs.  Crawford's  small  one-story  cot- 
tage. She  had  to  pass  not  far  from  the 
back  of  a  large  house,  —  Mr.  Leavitt's,  — 
and  was  obliged  to  make  a  detour  out  of 
her  direct  way  to  escape  the  possibility  of 
coming  into  notice.  The  deep  baying  of 
a  hound  struck  her  disagreeably  as  she 
accomplished  this  movement,  and  she  started 
into  a  quick  walk,  which  soon  became  a 
run  in  her  nervous  alarm.  She  was  quite 
out  of  breath  when  the  door  was  reached, 
and  stopped  a  moment  to  recover  herself 
before   essaying   to    knock. 

Mrs.  Crawford,  a  pale,  slatternly-dressed 
woman,  opened  the  door,  and  waited  to 
hear  her  errand  before  bidding  her  to  en- 
ter. Mrs.  Bennet  had  grown  much  worse 
in  a  few  hours,  she  said,  in  answer  to 
her  inquiries,  and  led  her  into  the  small 
room,  which,  to   appearances,  seemed   to  an- 


THE   HOMELESS   FAMILY.  233 

swer  the  purposes  of  both  kitchen  and 
bedroom.  A  fine,  sturdy-looking  boy  of 
twelve  or  fourteen  lounged  on  the  straw 
bed  in  the  corner,  and  a  young  girl  a 
year  or  two  older  busied  herself  in  placing 
a  chair  for  the  unseasonable  visitor,  after 
carefully   dusting   it  wuth  her   apron. 

Miss  Bennet  presently  made  her  appear- 
ance from  the  inner  room,  her  pale,  hag- 
gard face  and  disordered  dress  forming  a 
painful  contrast  to  the  blooming  complex- 
ion and  elaborate  toilet  of  the  past  night, 
as  did  the  dingy  room,  with  its  confused 
and  poverty-stricken  furniture,  to  the  ele- 
gant  parlor   of  Valley    Farm. 

"You  are  very  kind  to  come.  Miss  Hal- 
ford,"  she  said,  taking  the  basket  from 
MiUicent's  hand.  "Mamma  will  see  you; 
but  I  do  not  think  she  knows  any  one; 
she   is    growing  light-headed." 

Millicent  got  up  and  followed  her  into 
the  opposite  room,  which  Mrs.  Crawford 
had  kindly  given  up  to  her  unexpected 
visitors.     Mrs.   Bennet  was   lying   in   a  high 


234  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

fever,  wliicli  was  mucli  increased  by  tlie 
close  room  and  the  constant  excitement 
which  was  preying  upon  her.  The  two 
httle  girls  were  huddled  close  to  the  bed ; 
one  of  them  had  fallen  asleep,  the  other 
looked    up    with    curiosity   at   the    visitor. 

"  She  needs  a  doctor,"  observed  MilH- 
cent,  struck  by  the  sick  woman's  hot  face 
and   restless    eyes. 

"It  is  the  worry  which  is  killing  her," 
said  her  daughter ;  "  she  needs  only  cool- 
ing medicines,  and  those  I  was  so  fortu- 
nate as  to  take  with  me.  If  I  could  only 
hear  from  papa,  and  know  that  he  has  got 
off  safe !  but  I  am  afraid  that  he  is  lin- 
gering around  here  to  obtain  a  chance  to 
speak  ivith   us." 

"Why  do  you  think  so?"  asked  Milli- 
cent. 

"I  cannot  tell  you;  only  I  do  think  so. 
If  he  is  here,  he  will  be  sure  to  be  caught, 
and   the}"  will   hang   him  without   mercy." 

Millicent  could  give  her  little  comfort. 
Knowing    the    wretched     condition     of    his 


THE   HOMELESS   FAMILY.  235 

family,  it  was  only  too  likely  that  Mr. 
Bennet  would  be  tempted  to  linger  in  their 
vicinity  to  catch  news  of  them,  and  to 
form  some  plan  of  communicating  with 
them. 

"  We  have  friends  at  the  North,"  observed 
Miss  Bennet,  *'  if  mamma  was  better,  and 
we    could    only   get   away." 

It  was  a  hopeless  plan  at  present.  Mil- 
licent  said  a  few  words  of  her  aunt's 
anxieties  for   them. 

"  Mrs.  Leeson  is  kind,"  said  Miss  Ben- 
net,  with  a  little  hesitation.  Perhaps  the 
thought  that  an  invitation  might  have  been 
extended  to  her  mother  to  be  removed  to 
Wheatley   Place    crossed   her   mind. 

Millicent  rose  to  go.  Her  visit  had  not 
proved,  on  the  whole,  a  very  satisfactory 
one ;  she  began  to  see  that  it  would  not 
be    safe   to    repeat   it. 

She  did  her  errand  to  Mrs.  Crawford, 
received  her  promise  of  secrecy,  and,  tak- 
ing her  basket  from  Miss  Bennet's  hand, 
said   good-night   to   her   at  the   door. 


236  MILLICEXT  HALFORD. 

The  young  lad}"  followed  her  out  into 
the  air.  ^'  Mrs.  Leeson  has  not  heard  from 
her   son   lately  ? "    she   asked. 

''From  Mr.  James?  Yes."  Milliccnt 
paused ;  there  was  no  need  to  keep  it  a 
secret.  ''  He  has  left  Bowling  Green,  and 
taken  a  commission  in  the  Confederate 
army." 

Miss  Bonnet's  face  was  turned  away. 
Millicent   thought   she    repressed   a   sigh. 

"What   is    his    address?"    she    asked. 

"  I  cannot  tell  you,"  said  Millicent,  rather 
surprised  at  the  question.  "  Mrs.  Leeson's 
information  came,  I  believe,  through  a 
letter   from   Miss    Stuart." 

"Then  he  has  not  written  home?  Very 
likely  he  understood  his  mother's  disap- 
proval  of  the    step." 

Miss  Bennet  said  her  good-night,  and 
disappeared    indoors. 

Millicent  climbed  the  hill,  and  had  got 
nearly  past  the  house,  which  she  had  made 
a  wide  detour  to  avoid  in  coming,  when 
the   deep   baying   of    a    hound    in    the    dis- 


THE    HOMELESS    FAMILY.  23  7 

tance  again  arrested  her  attention.  She 
halted  and  stood  still  in  the  tall  grass,  at 
a  loss  whether  to  advance  or  to  begin  to 
retrace  her  steps.  The  last  was  nearly  out 
of  the  question,  and  if  the  animal  was 
chained,  as  was  most  likely,  he  could  do 
her  no  injury.  Very  likely  his  bark  came 
from  his  kennel  in  some  outside  building, 
and  was  not  excited,  as  her  fears  had  at 
jQrst   fancied,    by   her   proximity. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE   FPJGHT. 

REASSURED  by  this  last  recollection, 
Millicent  hastened  her  steps ;  but  she 
had  hardly  proceeded  twenty  yards,  wlicn 
the  increasing  volume  of  sound  warned  her 
that  the  animal  was  coming  toward  her, 
and  led  her  to  halt  again,  this  time  in  a 
pitiable  state  of  irresolution  and  terror.  She 
would  have  retraced  her  steps  at  a  rapid 
run;  but  her  alarm  had  the  effect  of  tak- 
ing from  her  the  power  of  motion,  and 
beside,  the  distance  to  the  cottage  was 
much  too  great  for  her  to  hope  to  pass 
over  it  without  being  overtaken,  should  the 
hound  actually  have  scented  her  presence. 
Her  only  course  was  to  stand  still  and 
wait   the    coming  of  events.     The  darkness, 

238 


THE  FmGHT.  239 

relieved  only  by  the  light  of  a  few  stars, 
was  too  intense  for  her  sight  to  penetrate 
beyond  a  few  3"ards.  Slie  could  only  dis- 
cern the  tall  grass,  nodding  with  blossoms 
on  each  side  of  her,  and  a  cluster  of  trees 
in  the  foreground,  which  might  be  supposed 
to  form  part  of  an  orchard  but  for  their 
distance   from   any    dwelling-house. 

Millicent  clasped  her  hands  tightly  to- 
gether, and  fixed  her  eyes  on  the  distance, 
from  out  of  which  the  deep-voiced  baying 
of  the  dog  proceeded,  every  moment  get- 
ting nearer.  It  was  a  fearful  situation. 
Her  breath  began  to  come  in  gasps,  and 
she  was  conscious  that  great  beads  of  per- 
spiration were  standing  on  her  forclieod. 
With  more  presence  of  mind,  slie  miglit 
have  tried  to  climb  a  tree  wliich  stood  at 
no  great  distance,  and  who:^e  low  branches 
would  liave  offered  a  ready  foothold ;  but 
the  terror  of  the  emergency  seemed  to  take 
away    all    her   thou gl its. 

Suddenly  she  grew  conscious  of  footsteps 
and    voices,    and   just   as   the    dog   emerged 


2-1:0  MILLICEXT   HALFOIID. 

from  cover  almost  at  her  feet,  with  lolling 
tongue  and  wild  eyes,  a  band  was  placed 
heavily  upon  lier  shoulder,  and  a  rough 
voice   responded  to  lier  irrepressihlc  shriek. 

"Down,  Joles,  down!  AVliat  business  have 
ye  liere,  gal?  Lcavitt,  this  is  one  of  Ben- 
net's  niggers,  I    guess. ^' 

Millicent  tore  herself  away  from  the  man's 
grasp,  and  made  an  ineifectual  attempt  to 
draw   her   bonnet   closer   over  her  face. 

"  Come,  let's  have  a  look  at  ye,"  persisted 
the  first  speaker,  standing  up  before  her  so 
as  to  bar  her  progress,  as  she  took  a  step 
to  get  away.  '^  Who  and  what  are  ye  ? 
Ye  don't  seem  to  be  a  nigger  wench  arter 
all,   as    I   can   make    out." 

"I  belong  in  the  neighborhood,"  said 
Millicent,  speaking  wnth  difficulty.  "I  came 
here  on  an  errand  to  the  house  just  back, 
and  took   this  short  cross  back  to  the  road." 

"A  pretty  time  of  night  for  a  woman 
to  be  walking  alone ! "  the  man  leered  at 
her  with  a  siiort  laugh.  "  What  w^as  your 
errand,  miss,  that  you  couldn't  do  it  by 
dayhght?" 


THE   FRIGHT.  241 

"I  went  to  carry  some  things  for  a  sick 
woman,"  said  Millicent,  bringing  her  basket 
round  from  her  arm  for  the  man's  inspec- 
tion. "  I  could  not  go  earher."  She  did 
not  say  she  dared  not  from  fear  of  the 
very    discovery    that   had    come    upon    her. 

''  That's  a  Hkely  story,"  said  the  m.an, 
bursting  out  with  an  oath.  ''  I  say,  Leav- 
itt,''  speaking  to  his  companion,  who  still 
kept  in  the  background,  and  had  not  once 
spoken  in  the  short  colloquy,  ^'  this  don't 
look  nat'ral.  The  girl's  a  spy  and  a  go- 
between  to  Bennet  and  his  wife,  loike  as 
not." 

"  Oh,  no,  no  !  "  exclaimed  Millicent,  clasp- 
ing her  hands.  ^'  Indeed,  indeed,  I  am  not. 
I  know  nothing  of  Mr.  Bennet.  I  only 
brought  some  delicacies  to  tlie  sick  Avoman 
who  1  heard  w^as  ill  with  a  fever  at  the 
cottage." 

"What's  your  name  then?  Whar  do  ye 
b'long?"    asked    her   interrogator,    shortly. 

"I  should  ratlier  not  tell  you,  sir,"  said 
Millicent,  her  senses  almost  deserting  her 
in   her   terror. 


zrj,  :uILLki::\t  iialfop.d. 

"  Thafs  good,"  said  tlio  man,  with  a  laugli. 
"  Come,  Leavitt,  let's  take  lier  along  to 
the  house  and  see  what  we  can  git  out 
of  her.  There's  something  under  this,  de- 
pend- upon    it !  " 

To  have  kept  silent  longer  would  have 
been   folly. 

*'  I  will  tell  you  who  I  am,  sir,"  said 
jMillicent,  hurriedly,  "if  you  will  let  me 
go.  My  name  is  Millicent  Halford  ;  I  am 
a  governess  in  Mr.  Leeson's  family  at 
Wheatley    Place." 

"  Ah  !  "  The  man  dropped  her  arm,  which 
he  had  seized  upon  in  the  act  of  forcing 
her  along,  with  a  short  exclamation.  "  So 
you  are  the  Yankee  teacher;  are  you? 
^Ye   don't  want  any  such  folks  round  here." 

"  You  liave  scared  the  girl  nearly  to 
death,  Wadleigh,"  interposed  Leavitt,  speak- 
ing for  the  first  time.  "  If  you  have  any 
questions  to  ask  her,  why  don't  you  put 
them    in    a   more    moderate    way?" 

"  Like  yours,"  sneered  Wadleigh.  "  Well, 
gal,  answer  me  one  question,  and  you  may 
go.     Where    is    old    Bennet   hid?" 


THE   FrJGIIT.  243 

"I  don't  know,  sir,  —  I  don't,  upon  my 
life !  I  have  just  told  yon  what  my  er- 
rand was  to  Mrs.  Bennet :  I  have  told 
you  the  whole  truth.  Mr.  Leeson  did  not 
know  I  came  here ;  he  has  been  in  town 
all    day." 

"  Lying  comes  as  easy  as  breathing  to 
these  Yankees,"  said  Wadleigh,  in  an  un- 
dertone,  to   Leavitt. 

"  Please  let  me  go,  sir,"  said  Millicent, 
hurriedly ;  "  it's  getting  late,  and  I  shall 
be    afraid   to   go    on." 

''  It  wont  answer  any  purpose  to  detain 
her,"  said  Leavitt,  speaking  up  before  Wad- 
leigh  could  reply.  "  If  there's  anything 
wrong,  she  don't  know  it.  I'd  stake  my 
word   upon    her   face  !     Let   her   go."    . 

"  Pshaw  !  "  said  Wadleigh,  half-unwillingly. 
"  You're  too  sober  a  man,  Leavitt,  to  be 
taken  in  by  a  pretty  face ; "  but  he  drew 
a  step  back,  and  Millicent  took  advantage 
of  the  movement  to  hurry  past  him  with- 
out waiting  for  a  more  direct  permission 
to   pursue    her    course,   or   for    the    risk    of 


244  MILLICKNT    UALFOIID. 

a  change  in  lier  captor's  purpose.  She 
moved  on  as  rapidly  as  tlie  thick  grass 
Would  allow,  quite  unconscious  now  of  the 
heavy  dews  which  ching  to  her  skirts  and 
saturated   her    thin    sh'ppers. 

The  road  was  crossed,  and  she  turned 
again  into  the  fields  which  lay  past  the 
deserted  ruins  of  Valley  Farm.  A  sudden 
apparition  started  up  in  her  path,  as  she 
h'ngered  here  for  a  second,  held  by  some 
irrepressible  attraction  to  gaze  against  her 
will.  It  was  the  figure  of  a  man,  crouched 
down  in  the  shadow  of  the  burnt  hedge, 
against  whom  her  dress  might  very  likely 
have    swept   in   her   rapid   passage. 

]\Iillicent's  nerves  were  unsteady  through 
the  fright  she  had  just  undergone;  her  lips 
parted  with  a  dismal  shriek,  which  rang 
out   gloomily    on   the   still   air. 

^'  Hush  !  "  whispered  a  voice  proceeding 
from  the  motionless  figure,  "you  will  show 
them    where    1    am." 

It  was  Mr.  Beunet.  Millicent  sat  down 
on  the  grass.  This  meeting  had  quite  de- 
prived  her    of  strength. 


THE  FRIGHT.  245 

"  Tell  me  something  of  my  family/'  he 
said,  crouching  back  in  the  shadow  of  the 
hedge.     "  Is    my    wife    living  ?  '' 

''  You  don't  know  what  danger  you  are 
in,  sir ! "  said  Millicent,  speaking  between 
her  gasps  for  breath.  "  They  are  out  with 
a  hound  to-night ;  they  came  upon  me  only 
a  minute  ago.  It  wont  do  for  you  to  lin- 
ger here  a  moment :  you  will  be  sure  to 
be  taken.  It  may  be  my  shriek  has  be- 
trayed  you    now." 

Both  started,  as  a  breath  of  wind  swept 
over  the  tall  grass.  Millicent  listened,  and 
th;  ught  she  heard  the  renewed  baying  of 
a   hound   in    the    distance. 

"  You  must  go,  sir,"  she  said,  springing 
up.  ^^It  wont  do  for  you  to  stop  here! 
They  will   be   upon    you    in   a   moment ! " 

Tlie  man  threw  a  sullen  glance  at  the 
ruined  spot,  where  so  lately  his  home  had 
risen,  without   making   a   movement   to  stir. 

'^  You  have  told  me  nothing  of  my  fom- 
ily,"    he    iterated.     "Is   my   wife   living?" 

"  She    is    in    good    hands,"    said    Millicent, 


246  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

speaking  rapidl}'.  "I  have  just  come  from 
her.  All  her  anxiety  is  for  you.  If  you 
arc    taken,    it    will    kill    her.'' 

The  deep,  distant  baying  of  a  hound 
was  certainly  audible.  Millicent  listened 
again. 

Bennet  picked  himself  up  from  the  ground. 
"I  have  a  knife  here,"  he  said,  putting 
his  hand  in  liis  vest,  "  and  a  pistol.  I 
shall  not  be  taken  alive.  But  I  am  faint 
for  Avant  of  food ;  I  have  tasted  nothing 
for   twenty-four   hours." 

Millicent  paused.  She  had  very  little 
time   to    think. 

^'  I  could  contrive  to  get  you  something," 
she  said ;  ''  but  how  t(^  get  it  to  you  ? 
You  must  get  away  from  here  as  fast  as 
possible.  Where  have  you  been  through 
the   day?" 

"  In  a  little  wood  not  half  a  mile  from 
here." 

"They  will  search  it  to-night,"  said  Mil- 
licent. ^'  Oh,  I  wish  you  were  miles  from 
here  ! " 


THE  FPJOnT.  247 

They  bad  moved  on  while  speaking,  and 
were    now    close    to    the   road. 

Bennet  stopped.  "  I  am  not  going  your 
way,  Miss  Halford.  I  shall  strike  up  through 
the   field." 

Millicent,  too,  paused.  "  You  will  not 
be  able  to  keep  on  without  food.  The 
men  are  out  for  you  too.  If  you  could 
hide,  and  come  to  the  orchard  back  of 
Wheatley  Place  at  two,  you  would  then 
have  two  hours  before  day  for  the  begin- 
ning of  your  journey,  and  the  night  prom- 
ises  to   be    cloudy." 

It  was  a  good  calculation.  The  fugitive 
felt,  so    as   he    stopped   to   consider   it. 

"  I  will  try  to  do  so,"  he  said,  "  if  I 
am  not  too  closely  watched.  I  know  a 
place  where  I  can  hide  on  the  banks  of 
a  creek;  the  water  will  take  out  the  scent 
for   the  hounds." 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

DISAPPOINTMENT. 

MILLICENT  crossed  the  road,  and  trav- 
ersed the  remaining  fields  without  far- 
ther accident.  She  found  Dinah  waiting 
her   appearance    in   the   orchard    in   a   state 

of  hvely   apprehension. 

*^  Missus  is  'most  out  of  her  head  'hout 
yoUj"  she  said,  as  they  proceeded  in  to- 
gether. ''  She  couldn't  think  what  could 
keep   you    so    long." 

Millicent  did  not  think  it  best  to  ac- 
quaint her  aunt  with  her  adventures ;  she 
merely  dwelt  upon  the  distance  and  the 
alarm  which  she  had  really  felt  in  her 
lonely   excursion. 

"I  should  have  sent  Dinah  with  you/' 
said   Mrs.    Leeson;    "but     the   thought    did 

248 


DISAPPOIXTMEXT.  2-1:9 

not  come    to  me   until   you   had   passed  out 
of  hearing." 

Milhcent  thought  it  had  proved  quite  as 
well.  The  negro  woman's  company  would 
not  have  prevented  the  unfortunate  rencon- 
tre with  Wadleigh  and  Leavitt,  and  might 
have  seriously  embarrassed  the  few  words 
of  counsel  she  had  been  able  to  ofier  to 
the  fugitive  of  whom  they  were  in  search. 
She  sat  with  her  aunt  rather  more  than 
an  hour,  and  then,  as  Mrs.  Leeson  dropped 
into  a  light  sleep,  she  took  the  opportunity 
of  leaving  her,  and  proceeded  down-stairs. 
It  was  not  far  from  twelve ;  Mr.  Leeson 
had  just  come  in  from  the  direction  of  the 
stable-buildings,  and  was  sitting  in  a  thoughts 
ful  attitude  at  one  of  the  windows  opening 
on  the  veranda  as  she  stepped  out.  He 
had   been    drilling   his    negroes. 

Millicent  remembered  suddenly  a  book 
she  had  left  upon  the  table,  and  found  it 
an  excuse  for  entering.  Her  cousin  gave 
a  little  start  at  her  appearance,  and  turned 
round    from   the    window. 


250  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

"  You  have  not  retired,  Millicent,"  he 
observed.  "  Is  my  mother  worse  this  even- 
ing?" 

''  Xo ;  Mrs.  Leeson  has  dropped  into  a 
liglit  sleep.  I  am  too  wakeful  to  get  rest, 
iirid  I  shall  try  to  busy  myself  with  a  book 
for   an   hour    or   two    to    come." 

Her  uneasiness  was  natural.  Frederick 
could  not  himself  shake  off  the  awe  of  his 
unpleasant   situation. 

"  I  have  had  two  or  three  busy  hours 
to-night,"  he  observed,  speaking  in  a  tone 
which  effort  alone  made  cheerfuh  "I  can- 
not say  much  for  my  first  lessons.  These 
negroes  are  better  adapted  to  handling  the 
hoe  than  the  musket,  not  to  speak  of  long 
"use." 

What  motive  had  these  poor  creatures  to 
learn?  They  were  not  about  to  fight  for 
home.  To-morrow  even  might  see  them 
torn  away,  bound  in  a  slave  coffle,  on 
their  way  to  the  cotton  fields  of  Georgia, 
under    the    lash    of  a    brutal    driver. 

"  I    have    read    that   they    make   the   best 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  251 

soldiers  in  the  world,"  said  Millicent,  with 
a   hesitating   manner. 

"The  full-blooded  African,  —  yes;  but  this 
mongrel  race,  very  little  can  be  expected 
from   them." 

Millicent  did  not  venture  an  answer. 
Perhaps  the  remark  admitted  of  none.  She 
took   up   her   book  to    go    out. 

"  I  shall  have  their  quarters  removed  to 
the  house  to-morrow."  pursued  Mr.  Lee- 
son.  ''This  threatened  attack  may  come  off 
at  any  moment.  We  shall  get  no  further 
warning." 

Was  the  danger  so  close  at  hand?  Mil- 
licent drew  an  uneasy  breath  as  she  stepped 
out.  She  could  not  be  blind  to  the  very 
scanty  nature  of  Mr.  Leeson's  preparation. 
If  blood  should  first  be  drawn  by  his  hand, 
it  might  only  have  the  effect  of  deepen- 
ing the  fury  of  his  assailants,  and  hurry 
his  own  doom.  If  Mr.  James  were  only 
still  at  Bowling  Green,  the  active  part  he 
had  taken  on  the  side  of  the  Confederacy 
would    give    him    influence    to    protect    his 


2o2  MTLLICENT    IlALFOllD. 

brother.  Millicent  did  not  consider  that 
fratricidal  contests  are  always  sure  to  work 
as  wide  a  separation  in  families  as  in  neigh- 
borhoods. In  this  instance,  too,  a  private 
enmity  added  its  bitterness,  and  it  is  hard 
to  say  in  such  cases  if  the  hatred  be  the 
stronger  on  the  side  of  the  injured  or  the 
injurer. 

It  was  past  one  Avhcn  ^Ir.  Lecson  went 
up  to  his  chamber.  Millicent  sat  in  her 
aunt's  room  wearying  over  her  book  in  the 
intervals  of  listening  intently  for  his  foot- 
steps. She  had  very  little  time  left  before 
two,  as  a  frlance  at  the  watch  on  the  table 
told  her,  and  she  proceeded  at  once  to 
grope  her  way  very  softly  down  to  the 
kitchen.  The  night  was  dark,  though  a 
few  stars  glimmered  in  the  east,  and  she 
had  to  trust  to  her  knowledge  of  the  rooms, 
and  the  position  of  the  furniture,  as  she 
went   on. 

The  kitchen  was  reached  without  acci- 
dent, and  takins:  the  kevs  of  the  closet 
from   her   pocket,   Millicent  felt   her   way  to 


DI3APP01NTJIEXT.  253 

the  pantry.  Here  she  abstracted  part  of  a 
loaf  of  bread  and  a  few  slices  of  meat, 
the  remains  of  the  previous  day's  dinner, 
and  stood  for  a  moment  casting  about  in 
her  thouglits  for  the  means  of  adding  to 
this  frugal  meal.  A  couple  of  dry  rolls  ]siy 
on  a  plate  in  the  corner.  She  remembered 
having  seen  them  in  the  morning,  and 
felt  very  carefully  over  the  array  of  cut 
glass    goblets   to    reach   them. 

Mrs.  Leeson's  closet  rarely  presented 
much  variety ;  her  table  was  always  frugal, 
less  from  her  own  choice  it  might  be  than 
from   the    rigid    necessity    of  economy. 

Mihicent  closed  the  door,  carefully  locked 
it,  and  after  wrapping  her  luncheon  in  a 
paper  which  she  had  taken  down  with  her, 
proceeded  to  grope  her  way  out.  She 
dared  not  slip  the  bolt  of  the  side-door, 
lest  in  the  stillness  of  the  night  it  should 
give  an  alarm,  but  crept  into  the  sitting- 
room,  out  of  whose  low  windows  she  could 
easily    emerge    on    the   veranda. 

The    night   was    intensely    still;    the    air 


254  MILLICENT    IIALFORD. 

was  heavy  Avitli  the  fragrance  of  the  roses 
which  climbed  around  the  pillars.  It  could 
not  be  far  from  two.  Millicent  glided  light- 
ly in  the  direction  of  the  orchard,  moving 
cautiously,  and  halting  more  than  once  as 
slie    passed    under   her    cousin's    windows. 

The  darkness  veiled  every  object  around 
her.  Several  moments  passed  before  she 
could  distinguish  the  trees  of  the  orchard, 
and  the  spot  once  attained,  she  seated  her- 
self to  await  her  expected  visitor.  It  was 
a  lonesome  situation.  Her  heart  pulsated 
tremulously,  and  she  wished  the  hour  was 
over.  How  would  Mr.  Bennet  discover  her 
in  tlie  darkness  with  his  possible  ignorance 
of  the  locality?  She  laid  her  ear  to  the 
ground,  and  listened  intently  for  footsteps. 
Twenty,  thirty  minutes  passed.  She  began 
to  despair.  Could  it  be  that  he  was  cap- 
tured? An  icy  chill  crept  over  her.  The 
minutes  flew  on,  and  by  and  by  a  dim 
glimmer  of  light  began  to  show  in  the 
east.  A  bird  began  to  chirp  in  the  branches 
overhead,  soon  followed  by  a  chorus  of 
feathered   songsters. 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  255 

To  remain  longer  would  be  useless.  Mil- 
licent  bent  her  head  again  to  the  ground, 
only  to  catch  the  low  sighing  of  the  wind 
among  the  grasses,  and  rose  from  her  seat. 
She  must  hurry  back  before  daybreak,  re- 
visit the  pantry,  and  make  her  way  as 
noiselessly  as  she  could  up  to  her  own 
chamber.  She  had  no  disposition  to  sleep; 
her  anxieties  quite  took  away  all  thoughts 
of  repose,  and  she  sat  herself  down  by  the 
window  to  watch  the  full  breaking  of  the 
dawn. 

The  negro  quarters  were  early  astir.  The 
men  had  their  meals  to  cook  for  the  day . 
before  going  into  the  field,  and,  if  time 
permitted,  an  hour  or  two  to  spend  upon 
the  plot  of  garden  which  Mr.  Leeson,  in 
carrying  out  the  old  Virginian  customs, 
had   appropriated   to    their   especial   use. 

Millicent  went  down-stairs  with  the  first 
sounds  of  life  stirring  in  the  house,  and 
passed  out  into  the  air.  The  men  were 
going  to  their  labors  in  the  field,  laden 
with   their    hoes.      Jim,    whose    meals   were 


256  illLLlCEXT    IlALFOnn. 

taken  at  the  kitchen  table,  he  being  con- 
sidered to  belong  to  the  class  of  lionse- 
servants,  had  just  descended  from  his  bed 
in  the  stable-loft,  and  was  stretching  liim- 
self  lazily  in  the  sun.  Millicent  glanced  at 
the  negroes  as  they  stepped  on  in  their 
coarse  but  whole  attire.  They  looked  cheer- 
ful and  even  happy,  and  one  of  them  was 
humming  a  snatch  of  a  song.  Certainly 
slavery  presented  few  of  its  worst  charac- 
teristics at  Wheatley  Place.  Mr.  Leeson 
was  an  easy  master  and  on  the  whole  a 
fair-principled  man.  If  a  portion  of  human 
beings  had  in  his  eyes  precisely  the  riglits 
and  claims  of  dumb  cattle,  it  was  in  a 
measjire  owing  to  the  fault  of  his  education, 
and  the  frightful  power  of  custom.  Milli- 
cent  turned  from  looking  after  them  to 
contemplate  Jim,  whose  attention  on  his 
part  Avas  drawn  toward  her.  The  boy's 
sullen  expression  struck  her.  Dinah  had 
lately  hinted  at  a  love  affair  on  the  tapis 
between  Eose  and  Jim.  Millicent  remem- 
bered it. 


DISAPPOINTMENT.  257 

"You  were  practising  with  the  musket 
last  night,  Jim/'  she  observed,  speaking  to 
him  cheerfully.  "  How  do  you  like  to  be 
a   soldier?" 

"  I  dunno,  missus."  Jim's  eyes  rolled  up 
with  a  curious  expression.  "I's  'most  'fraid 
ob    de   gun." 

"  You  wouldn't  be  afraid  of  it,  if  you 
were  fighting  for  your  life,  Jim.  Suppose 
Wheatley  Place  were  burned  down,  like  Mr. 
Bennet's  house  that  we  watched  the  other 
night,   what   would    become  of  us?" 

"I    dunno,   miss." 

Jim  twirled  his  straw  hat  over  his  hands 
without  an  appearance  of  any  special  in- 
terest  in   the    question. 

Millicent  looked  at  him  uneasily.  Mrs. 
Leeson  had  been  unfortunate  in  the  occa- 
sion she  had  selected  for  ordering  Jim  a 
whipping.  She  should  have  given  him  the 
lesson  earlier,  or  it  would  have  been  much 
wiser  to  have  omitted  it  altogether.  Al- 
though only  a  slave,  it  was  plain  that 
Jim's  sluggish  blood  had  been  fully  roused 
by  the   degrading   punishment   of  the  whip. 


CHAPTER     XXX. 

THE    ALARM    IX   THE    HOUSEHOLD. 

ON  going  in,  Millicent  found  tliat  the 
rumor  of  the  projected  attack  upon 
Wheatley  Place  had  ah'cady  gone  its  ruund 
in  the  kitchen,  exciting  the  liveliest  aj> 
prehensions  of  Lizzie  and  Rose,  and  the 
no  less  deep,  but  more  suppressed,  disqui- 
etude of  Dinah.  On  closely  questioning 
Rose,  she  found  that  the  alarm  had  its 
beginning  in  Mr.  Leeson's  preliminary  steps 
of  the  past  night,  which  were  supposed  to 
be  taken  with  some  immediate  object.  Mil- 
licent set  herself  at  work  to  quiet  the 
servants'  fears  by  assuring  them  that  this 
course  was  only  what  was  necessary  to 
be  taken  b}^  the  master  of  any  household 
in    the    dangerous    character    of   the    times. 

258 


THE  ALARM  IN  THE  HOUSEHOLD.    259 

They  must  carefully  keep  it  from  Mrs. 
Leeson,  she  added,  who,  in  her  weak  state, 
was  wholly  unfitted  to  bear  the  smallest 
excitement. 

It  was  easy  to  quiet  their  fears,-— easy 
to  put  on  an  outward  cheerfulness;  but  a 
fever  of  unrest  possessed  her  beneath.  Ad- 
cle's  cheerful  tones  grated  upon  her  ear  at 
the  breakfast-table,  and  Mrs.  Leeson's  fret- 
ful mood,  when  she  went  up  to  her  cham- 
ber, ,  seemed  to  make  more  than  the  usual 
demands  upon  her  patience. 

Two  circumstances  had  occurred  to  dis- 
turb Mrs.  Leeson's  delicate  nerves, —the 
first,  a  letter  from  her  son,  which  had 
come  in  by  the  post  the  previous  day, 
but  which  Frederick  receiving  just  at  night- 
fall had  thought  proper  to  withhold  from 
his  mother  until  the  morning;  the  second, 
a  piece  of  news  which  she  lost  little  time 
in  communicating  to  Millicent:  Mr.'Bennet 
was  supposed  to  be  somewhere  lurking  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  a  gang  of  men  had 
scattered   through  the   past   night  in  search 


260  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

of  liim.  They  bad  certainly  tracked  liim 
across  a  field,  and  once  the  lioiind  tliey 
took  with  them  had  got  upon  a  scent,  but 
was  foiled  through  some  unexplained  means. 
Mrs.  Leeson  had  received  her  information 
from  her  maid,  Dinah,  who,  on  her  part, 
had    been    indebted    to    Mr.    Leavitt's    Sam. 

"It  is  horrible!"  added  Mrs.  Leeson, 
shuddering.  "  They  should  be  content  with 
destroying  the  poor  man^s  property,  with- 
out   hunting   his   life." 

They  had  not  taken  him  then.  Millicent 
found  herself  relieyed  of  one  anxiety ;  the 
chase  had  been  too  close  to  allow  of  the 
fugitive  keeping  Jiis  appointment  if  he  had 
fully  decided  to  do  so.  Ignorant,  as  Mil- 
licent of  course  was,  of  the  circumstances 
of  the  previous  mortgage,  she  did  not 
know  of  an}^  reason  why  Mr.  Bonnet 
should  hesitate  to  accept  a  crust  of  bread 
from  Wheatley  Place    in   his   hour    of  need. 

Mrs.  Leeson  made  no  allusion  to  her 
letter,  the  postmark  upon  which  drew  Mil- 
licent's  attention,  as   she   glided    about,  plac- 


THE  ALARM  IN  THE  HOUSEHOLD.    261 

lug  the  room  to  rights,  and  gave  Aclele, 
who  had  just  entered,  a  direction  in  an 
undertone  to  gather  her  a  handful  of  roses 
and  honeysuckles  to  replace  the  drooping 
flowers  in  the  vases.  It  might  not  be  for 
long  these  little  offices  would  be  in  her 
power;  she  thought  over  the  fact  with  an 
nneasy  sigh. 

Adole  seemed  to  have  caught  the  con- 
tagion of  her  depressed  spirits,  as  they 
passed  up  together  to  the  schoolroom. 
The  young  lady  had  conceived  a  strong 
regard  for  her  governess,  and  Millicent 
had  begun  to  find  in  her  a  degree  of 
companionship  which  she  could  hardly  have 
looked  for  at  first.  If  she  had  not  given 
her  word  to  Frederick  to  preserve  silence, 
she  would  certainly  have  taken  her  into 
her  confidence,  sure  of  her  judgment  and 
courage  under  the  circumstances;  as  it  was, 
she  doubted  the  justice  of  keeping  back 
the    peril   which  was   now  so  close  at  hand. 

"  Frederick  was  drilling  his  negroes  last 
night.   Miss    Halford,"    said   Adele,   pausing, 


262  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

with  lier  book  open  at  the  morning  les- 
son. "  Do  you  think  wo  are  in  any  dan- 
ger   of  being   attacked  ?  " 

"  I  do  not  know,"  said  Millicent,  looking 
down.  '•  The  country  seems  to  be  in  a 
IVighiful  state ;  no  one  is  safe  but  those 
wlio  are  leagued  to  tliis  house-burning  and 
pillage.  Your  brother  does  w^ell  to  pre- 
pare   against    the    possibility    of  danger.'' 

"  What  should  we  do,"  pursued  Adele, 
''  if  they  came  here  as  they  went  to  Mr. 
Bonnet's  ?  It  would  kill  mother  to  be 
turned  out,  as  poor  Mrs.  Bonnet  was, 
from    a  sick-bed    into    the   damp   night." 

''  Your  brother  would  make  resistance," 
said  Millicent;  '-he  would  not  leave  his 
house   like    Mr.    Bennet." 

''  Then  the}'  would  kill  him.  You  know 
they  were  hunting  up  Mr.  Bennet  last 
night   to   warn    him   off;    Sam   said    so." 

MilHcent  hoped  their  intentions  toward 
Mr.  Bennet  went  no  farther ;  on  that  point 
she    was    doubtful. 

^'  I  hope  Frederick  wont   resist,"  pursued 


THE  ALARM  IN  THE  HOUSEHOLD.    263 

Adele,  with  a  strange  thoiiglitfulness  quite 
beyond  a  child.  ''  I  don't  believe  it  would 
do    any    good ;    they    would    only    kill   him." 

''  Then  you  would  be  willing  to  see 
your  house  burned  down  like  Mr.  Ben- 
net's  ?  " 

'^  I  don't  know ;  it  seems  awful.  I  v^- ish 
we  could  go  away.  Mamma  has  friends  at 
Belmont.  We  might  go  there ;  they  are 
cousins    of  ours." 

^'I  suppose  Mr.  Leeson  thinks  it  best 
to  remain  here  to  protect  his  property/' 
said  Millicent,  directing  by  a  glance  her 
pupil's  attention  to  her  book.  "  If  he 
sliould  go  away,  it  would  be  put  to  the 
torch  at  once ;  and  your  mother,  even  if 
able  to  be  removed,  would  not  consent  to 
go    without    him." 

The  day  passed  on  slowly  to  Millicent; 
a  feverish  restlessness  preyed  upon  her ; 
sh.e  dreaded  the  approach  of  the  nightfall, 
and  shrank  from  the  inquisitive  glance 
which  her  imagination  once  or  twice  fan- 
cied directed  tov/ard  her  by  her  aunt, 
during   her    stay    in    the    invalid's    chamber. 


264  JIILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

It  was  one  of  ^Mrs.  Leeson's  ill  days, 
which  might  be  accouiited  for,  in  part,  by 
the  oppressive  state  of  tlie  atmosphere, 
which  had  gathered  a  sultry  heat,  and 
partly  by  some  mental  cause  which  did 
not   make    its  appearance  upon  the    surface. 

Frederick  spent  the  most  of  the  da}-  in 
the  Hbrary,  api)arently  engaged  in  \\riting 
letters,  and  went  out  directly  after  supper 
for   a   stroll    in    the    garden. 

If  the  family  at  Wheatley  Place  could 
have  looked  into  the  low  bar-room  of  the 
neighboring  tavern  a  few  hours  later,  they 
would  have  found  the  burden  of  suspense 
lifted  to  give  place  to  a  scarcely  less 
terrible  certainty. 

A  group  of  some  eighteen  or  twenty 
men  were  lounging  in  chairs  around  the 
bar  at  the  weird  hour  of  twelve,  the  land- 
lord, who,  to  appearances,  formed  one  of 
the  party,  niixing  and  dealing  out  a  suc- 
cession of  brimming  glasses  to  the  de- 
mands of  his  customers.  A  noisy  conver- 
sation was  going  on,  which  seemed  to  have 


THE  ALARM  IN  THE  HOUSEHOLD.    265 

reached  its  climax,  tlie  uproarious  oaths 
and  demonstrations  for  once  giving  place 
before  the  remonstrances  of  the  more  ret- 
icent and  qniet  party.  The  subject  just 
passed  under  discussion  was  the  plan  of 
attack  upon  Wheatley  Place,  —  the  attack 
itself  had  been  settled  upon  earlier  in  the 
evening.  Only  one  voice  had  opposed  it, 
—  that  of  Mr.  Leavitt,  faintly,  —  and  with 
a  readiness  to  yield  on  the  first  sliow  of 
argument.  Mr.  Leeson's  unpopularity  had 
come  to  a  mushroom  growth,  and  in  the 
eyes  of  these  guardians  of  public  matters, 
fully  warranted  the  taking  of  some  bold 
step   against  him. 

First,  he  had  always  been  suspected  of 
lukewarmness  in  the  good  cause,  a  state 
of  feeling  which,  in  the  emergencies  of  the 
times,  could  be  ill  tolerated.  Secondly,  he 
had  shown  clearly  his  disloyal  sympathies 
in  refusing  to  join  in  the  late  night  raid 
upon  his  neighbor,  and  in  privately  con- 
veying him  information  of  the  contemplated 
attacl:.     If  these  causes  were    not   sufficient 


2G6  WILLTCENT    IIALFORD. 

to  warrant  an  indignant  state  of  feeling, 
anotlier  liad  been  supplied  the  past  niglit' 
in  the  fact  that  Bennet  had  been  clearly 
tracked  in  the  close  vicinity  of  Wheatley 
Place,  whose  master  had  no  doubt  afforded 
him  shelter,  and  where  it  was  by  no  means 
improbable    that   he    was    still    secreted. 

Tiie  more  violent  members  of  the  party 
had  urged  a  repetition  of  the  violence  of- 
fered at  Valley  Farm,  and  the  summary 
execution  of  lynch  law  upon  the  traitor, 
who,  surprised  by  this  sudden  attack,  would 
fall  an  easy  prey  into  their  hands.  The 
first  part  of  the  motion  had  been  success- 
I'ully  resisted  on  the  grounds  of  Mr.  Leav- 
itt's  mortgage,  and  the  well-known  loyalty 
of  the  younger  Mr.  Leeson ;  but  the  last, 
with  some  little  opposition,  was  yielded  to 
the  decision  of  the  majority.  It  remained 
now  to  be  decided  how  the  attack  upon 
the  house  should  be  opened,  and  the  whole 
affair  managed  in  as  quiet  a  manner  as 
possible. 

To  call   out    Mr.  Leeson,  shoot    him  down 


THE  ALARM  IX  THE  HOUSEHOLD.     267 

on  liis  cloor-stone,  with  a  few  brief  mo- 
ments offered  him  for  preparation,  when 
once  in  their  hands,  and  to  search  the 
house  and  ont-biiildings  afterward  for  the 
hidden  fugitive,  —  a  search  which  would 
then  meet  with  no  opposition  from  the 
terrified  women  and  negroes,  —  presented 
itself  as   the    shortest   course. 

It  was  no  new  circumstance  in  the  heat 
of  this  partisan  warfare  for  neighbors  to 
vote  the  death  of  a  neighbor  with  whom 
they  had  spent  a  lifetime  on  terms  of  mu- 
tual good-feeling,  or  even  for  brothers  to 
look  tamely  on  and  see  members  of  their 
own  households  surrendered  up  to  butchery. 

In  the  heart  of  a  slave-holder,  used,  in 
his  supreme  realm,  to  acts  of  cruelty  and 
barbarism,  little  tenderness  could  be  ex- 
pected; it  was  rather  a  ready-waiting  field, 
Avith  the  germs  of  a  hundred  brutal  pas- 
sions ready  to  start  into  life  at  the  hot 
breath   of  civil   war. 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

THE    ATTACK. 

THE  night  was  clear ;  the  heavens  over- 
head were  hnng  with  a  myriad  of 
glistening  stars ;  the  wheat  stood  in  flower 
along  the  roadsides ;  the  tall  gra??s,  with 
its  withering  blossoms,  was  ripe  for  the 
scythe  of  the  mower.  Stealthily  the  party 
moved  on,  their  footfalls  echoing  heavily 
in  the  stillness  on  the  dusty  ground,  low 
words  passing  between  thera,  —  here  and 
there  tlie  stifled  murmur  of  an  oath,  or 
the  bantering  of  a  half-drunken  jest.  A 
few  moments  brought  them  to  the  gate 
which  opened  on  the  long  carriage  avenue 
leading   up    to    Wheatley    Place. 

Leavitt    passed    in    last   of    the    company ; 
his    ghastly    face    escaped    the    notice   of  his 

208 


J 


THE   ATTACK.  269 

companions  in  the  glimmer  of  the  starlight, 
and  he  seized  the  opportunity  of  falling  a 
few  paces  behind  them,  as  they  pressed 
up  to   the    house. 

The  tall  building  lay  in  stillness,  the 
roses  and  honeysuckles  fluttering  around 
the  white  pillars  of  the  veranda.  The  mid- 
night band  fell  back  by  a  preconcerted 
arrangement  into  the  shadows,  only  two  of 
the  party  remaining  outside  ;  one  stepped 
up  to  the  door,  and  gave  a  loud  knock. 
A  little  pause  followed.  Presently  Mr.  Lee- 
son's   head  appeared   above  at   the   window. 

'^  Who  are    you  ? "    he    demanded. 

'^  Friends,"  said  the  visitor  below.  "  You 
know  me,  Leeson, —  Captain  Rodney,  —  and 
this  is  Delford.  Come  down ;  we  want  to 
speak    with   you." 

"You  have  chosen  a  most  unsuitable 
hour  for  your  visit,  gentlemen,"  responded 
the  master  of  the  house,  who  seemed  in 
no  haste  to  comply.  "  Will  not  your  busi- 
ness   wait    till   daylight?" 

"  It   is    of  importance,"    said    his    compan- 


270  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

ion,  "  and  we  cannot  run  the  hazard  of 
putting  it  off.  Step  down,  Mr.  Leeson; 
we  will  not  detain  you  but  a  few  moments." 
"  I  suppose  you  are  armed,  gentlemen," 
observed  Mr.  Leeson.  "  In  these  danger- 
ous times,  a  man  is  compelled  to  be  wary 
of  the  character  of  his  visitors.  I  hope 
you  will  not  consider  me  inhospitable  if  I 
decline  to  admit  you  at  this  unseasonable 
hour  altogether.  If  you  have  business  with 
me,    it   must  wait." 

"  Give  us  up  Bonnet,  Mr.  Leeson,"  said 
Captain  Rodney,  throvring  off  his  first  at- 
tempt at  concealment  at  this  speech,  ^' and 
we  will  leave  you  in  peace.  We  know  he 
is  concealed  here,  and  have  him  we  must." 
"  Mr.  Bennet  is  not  on  my  premises,  on 
the  word  of  a  gentleman,"  said  Frederick. 
^'  I    know    nothing    of  his    whereabouts." 

"  That  aint  to  be  believed,"  said  another 
of  the  conspirators,  stepping  out  from  the 
shadow  of  the  pillar.  '^  lie  ran  this  way 
last  night.  We  know  he's  in  tljis  house, 
somewhere,    and    have    him    out    we    will ! " 


THE   ATTACK.  271 

"  Submit  to  a  search,  Mr.  Leeson/'  said 
the  first  speaker,  addressing  him  again. 
"  We'll  agree  not  to  do  any  damage  to 
the    furniture,    or   terrify   the    women." 

"  I  have  given  you  my  word,"  said  Mr. 
Leeson,   firmly ;    "  that   is    sufficient." 

A  light  step  was  behind  him;  a  wo- 
man's figure  had  crossed  the  chamber  and 
glided    up    to   his    side. 

"For  God's  sake,  Millicent,  stand  back!'' 
he  whispered ;  ''  they  will  see  your  face 
in  this  light.  Run  down,  if  you  can,  and 
see  if  they  are  about  to  try  the  windows. 
Sam  and  Pete  must  be  awake.  I  must 
stay   here    a   moment   longer." 

A  hurried  consultation  seemed  to  be  go- 
ing on  among  the  party  outside ;  one  or 
two  had  emerged  into  the  light,  others 
began  to  follow.  The  first  plan  had  failed ; 
it  Avas  thought  no  longer  necessary  to  keep 
their   numbers   a    secret. 

"  You  had  better  let  us  in,  Mr.  Leeson," 
said  Captain  Rodney,  directing  his  voice 
to  him   again.     "We    shall  make    the  search 


27 li  UlLLICENT   HALFORD. 

anyhow,  and  I  can't  answer  for  the  con- 
sequences if  we  have  to  try  our  own  ways 
of  entrance.  I  advise  you  to  take  the 
matter   reasonably,   as   a   friend." 

A  sudden  bright  •  flash  of  light,  the  re- 
port of  a  pistol,  and  the  whizzing  of  a 
ball,  which  swept  past  the  captain's  mouth 
to  bury  itself  in  the  brain  of  a  compan- 
ion who  stood  at  his  elbow,  was  the  un- 
expected answer.  The  wretched  man,  with- 
out a  groan  or  gasp,  fell  back,  precipitating 
two  or  three  of  his  comrades  from  tlieir 
balance,  as  his  corpse  sank  with  a  dull, 
heav}^    fiill   on   the     greensward. 

Another  shot  followed;  the  group  parted 
precipitately,  falling  back  to  cover  to  be 
met  by  a  startling  volley  from  the  low 
windows  opening  on  the  veranda,  which, 
though  discharged  by  unskilful  hands,  told 
with  terrible  effect  from  their  nearness. 
Three  forms  lay  stretched  out  at  their 
length  on  the  smooth  boards,  and  their 
companions  scattered,  and  took  to  their 
heels  in  the  shadows  thrown  by  the  out- 
buildings. 


THE   ATTACK.  273 

"We  have  routed  them,"  said  Frederick, 
stepping  down  from  the  stairs.  "  Load 
again,  boys,  and  quick!  they  will  be  back. 
The}^  will  try  to  burn  us  out,"  he  mut- 
tered to  himself,  in  a  ■  whisper.  "  Thank 
Heaven,  the  wind  is  to  the  west  to-night ! 
If  they  fire  the  out-buildings,  the  flames 
will   not   be    blown   this  way." 

Probably  this  aspect  of  the  case  pre- 
sented itself  to  the  attacking  party,  for 
no  such  attempt  was  made ;  but  an  ominous 
stillness,  broken  only  by  the  low  groans 
of  the  wounded  lying  outside,  prevailed  for 
several  moments. 

Presently,  from  his  post  at  one  of  the 
windows,  Frederick  descried  three  or  four 
figures  gliding  out  from  the  shadows  of 
the    out-buildings    over    the    grass. 

"  Run  up-stairs,  Millicent !  "  he  exclaimed, 
"and  see  what  you  can  discover  from  the 
eastern  windows ;  this  part  of  the  house 
is  the  weakest,  and  they  will  try  it  again. 
Boys,  bring  your  guns  to  a  level;  take 
aim  !  Here  they  come  !  " 
IS 


214:  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

The  last  words  were  uttered  in  a  sup- 
pressed tone.  At  the  instcint  a  volley  of 
balls  rattled  in  through  the  windows,  which 
parted  into  fragments  of  broken  glass. 
One  of  the  negroes  in  the  act  of  pulling 
the  trigger  dropped  his  musket,  and  fell 
forward  with  a  low  groan.  The  rest  fired 
at  the  instant,  and  the  attacking  party 
upon  whom  the  shots,  from  their  nearness, 
evidently  told,  again  fell  back,  and  in- 
stantly scattered.  Frederick  found  his  riglit 
arm  hanging  helpless  by  his  side,  and  shifted 
his   pistol    to    his   left   hand. 

"  I  will  leave  one  ball  for  myself,"  he 
thought,  as   he    clutched   it  more    closely. 

The  wounded  negro  lay  groaning  upon 
the  floor,  his  comrades  still  grouped  in 
various  attitudes  beside  him.  The  groans 
of  the  dying  outside  came  with  a  dismal 
distinctness  through  the  now  open  win- 
dows. 

Frederick  sent  one  agonized  thought  to 
his  mother,  another  to  his  helpless  young 
sister   and    cousin,   and    whispering    to    his 


THE   ATTACK.  275 

men  to  reload  their  guns,  waited  gloomily 
the  third  attack  which  he  had  little  doubt 
would  follow.  He  was  happily  disappointed, 
however.  The  night  murderers,  disgusted 
with  their  hot  reception,  and  no  doubt  be- 
lieving, on  the  second  repulse,  that  Mr. 
Leeson  had  collected  an  army  of  his  friends 
beside  him,  gave  up  the  attack,  and  scat- 
tered in  retreat,  leaving  their  dead  and 
wounded    stretched    upon    the    dewy    grass. 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

THE   MORNING    SCENE. 

ALONG  hour  passed,  its  solemn  still- 
ness broken  to  Millicent  on  her  watch 
by  the  sobs  and  exclamations  of  the  ter- 
rified servants,  whose  voices  reached  her 
from  the  head  of  the  back  staircase,  where 
they  had  crowded  together,  and  to  the 
group  below  in  the  sitting-room  by  the 
continued    groans    outside. 

"They  must  have  gone,"  thought  Milli- 
cent, turning  at  length  from  the  window, 
after  sending  a  long,  searching  glance  out- 
side. She  ran  down  the  staircase,  to  come 
into  collision  with  another  figure  at  the 
foot,  a  slight,  girlish  form,  which  she  at 
once    recognized    as    Adele's. 

"  Oh,  Milhcent !  "  she  gasped,  catching  her 
cousin's  hands,  "where    is    Frederick?" 

276 


THE   MORNING    SCENE.  277 

"  Go  back  to  your  mother,  Ad^le/'  said 
Millicent,  trying  to  speak  bravely,  while 
her  heart  grew  frightfully  faint.  "  It  will 
not   do   to   leave   her   alone." 

Frederick,  who  had  heard  the  short  col- 
loquy,  stepped   to   the   door. 

^^  I  think  the  worst  is  over,"  he  said,  in 
a  low  voice.  "  They  will  not  come  back. 
It   cannot   be    far   from    day." 

"  Oh,  you  are  safe,  Fred. ! "  said  Adele, 
with   a   burst  of  joy. 

Millicent's    emotion   kept   her   silent. 

"You  had  better  go  up-stairs  again," 
said  Mr.  Leeson.  "  My  mother  must  be  in 
a   state    of  great   alarm." 

Millicent  put  her  arm  around  her  cousin, 
and  urged  her  gently  up  the  stairs.  Mrs. 
Leeson  was  alone  in  her  chamber,  lying 
back  on  her  pillows,  with  an  uneasy  res- 
piration. Her  hands  were  clasped  tightly 
together;  she  seemed  to  be  in  the  act  of 
prayer. 

"Is  Frederick  safe?"  she  asked,  opening 
her   eyes   at   Millicent's    quick    step. 


278  MILLICENT   IIALFORD. 

''  Ho  is  safe,  mother ! "  said  Addle,  who 
had  followed  close  behind  her.  '^  He  has 
beaten  the  men  off;    they  wont  come  back." 

"  Is  this  true  ? "  asked  Mrs.  Leeson,  look- 
ing  anxiously   at    Millicent. 

^'  Yes,  ma'am ;  Mr.  Frederick  thinks  they 
have  gone.'* 

"I^want  to  see  Frederick.  Will  you 
send    him   up,    Millicent?" 

Her   niece    hesitated. 

"  I  Avant  to  see  him  with  my  own  eyes," 
persisted  his  mother,  — ''  to  see  that  he  ia 
safe." 

Millicent  went  down,  groping  her  way 
again    over   the    dark   staircase. 

Frederick  was  standing  near  one  of  the 
windows  as  she  stepped  into  the  sitting- 
room.  She  noticed  for  the  first  time  that 
his    right   arm   hung   loosely   by   his    side. 

"  You  are  wounded ! "  she  exclaimed,  ter- 
rified. 

'^  Only  a  scratch.  A  ball  has  disabled  my 
arm ;  that  is  all.  I  think  we  are  safe  for 
to-night:    they  have    got  enough.     Millicent, 


THE   MORNING   SCENE.  279 

can  you  get  some  bandages?  This  poor 
fellow,    I   fear,   is   badly  liurt.'^ 

Millicent  went  to  her  work-basket,  which 
she  remembered  contained  two  or  three 
strips  of  fine  cloth  precisely  adapted  to 
this  purpose.  She  lingered  to  see  if  she 
could  be  of  further  service,  quite  forget- 
ting,  in   her   anxiety,   her   aunt's    errand. 

The  man's  wound  proved  to  be  in  his 
shoulder,  a  very  severe  one,  which  Fred- 
erick saw,  even  in  the  imperfect  light,  Avas 
quite  beyond  his  handling.  He  could  only 
stanch  the  further  flow  of  blood,  and  con- 
sider the  necessity  of  sending  for  the  near- 
est doctor  as  soon  as  the  day-dawn  would 
permit.  It  was  close  at  hand ;  a  glimmer- 
ing of  light  had  already  begun  to  show  in 
the  east,  and  the  low  voices  of  the  birds 
to  twitter  among  the  bushes  of  the  garden. 

Frederick  drew  aside  the  heavy  bolt  that 
had  barred  the  passage  of  his  night  visit- 
ors an  hour  before,  and  stepped  out  on  the 
veranda.  There  was  nothing  now  to  fear. 
The    spot   was    tenanted    only   by   two    mo- 


280  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

tionless  forms  congealed  in  blood.  The 
third  had  crawled  away,  and  lay  with  his 
face  downward  in  one  of  the  odorous  beds 
of  the  garden,  his  hands  clinched  above 
his  head  as  he  lay  extended  among  the 
crushed    stalks   of  the    flowers. 

Frederick  stooped  over  the  first  corpse, 
and  gently  put  back  with  his  hand  the 
thick,  matted  hair  from  the  temples.  As 
he  did  so,  a  low  exclamation  of  horror  es- 
caped him.  The  dead  face  turned  up  in 
the  gray  dawn,  convulsed  and  ghastly  white, 
w^as  no  other  than  that  of  his  friend,  Mr. 
Leavitt. 

A  low  groan  burst  from  the  young  man 
as  he  lifted  himself  up.  He  could  not  but 
see  the  righteous  retribution  which  had  been 
so  strangely  dealt  out.  He  recalled  the 
dead  man's  words  to  him  but  a  little  space 
before,  —  "The  only  way  to  save  a  man's 
life  and  property  in  these  times  is  to  go 
with  the  strong  party."  Had  it  proved  so? 
He  had  acted  against  his  conscience,  and 
here   w^as   the    end. 


THE   MORNING  SCENE.  281 

The  nearness  of  the  attacking  to  the  re- 
pelling party  had  made  most  of  the  ill- 
directed  shots  prove  fatal.  Four  corpses 
lay  on  the  veranda  and  in  the  garden, 
each  stark  and  stiff,  the  last  spark  of  vi- 
tality  gone    out. 

Frederick  came  in  to  attend  to  his  own 
wound,  which  proved,  as  he  had  antici- 
pated, a  trifling  one,  and  to  despatch  one 
of  the  negroes  for  a  doctor  for  poor  Sam, 
who  lay  groaning  upon  the  floor.  MiUi- 
cent  gave  him  his  mother's  message,  and 
he  went  up  to  her  chamber.  Adele  was 
sitting  by  her  bedside;  both  were  in  a 
state   of  painful   distress. 

"How  will  this  end?"  asked  his  mother, 
looking  anxiously  at  him,  after  receiving 
his  assurance  that  his  wound,  which  at 
once  attracted  her  attention,  was  slight,  a 
mere  scratch.  "Is  any  one  killed?  Have 
you    drawn    blood?" 

Frederick  hesitated.  "We  had  to  beat 
them  back,  mother.  Nothing  short  of  blood 
would    satisfy    them.      Poor    Sam   is    badly 


282  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

wounded,  I  fear.  The  rest  got  off  with- 
out a  scratcli.  If  it  had  been  a  full  moon- 
hght   night,    we    should    have   fared    worse." 

'^  Tliey  will  come  again,"  said  Mrs.  Lee- 
son,  with  a  shudder.  "We  must  go  from 
here.  Oh,  Frederick,  what  have  you  done 
to    bring   on    this   attack?'' 

"  I  have  done  nothing,  mother,"  said  Mr. 
Leeson,  quietly.  "  But  these  last  three 
hours  have  decided  my  politics.  Henceforth 
I  stand  no  longer  neutral,  but  espouse  with 
voice    and    hand   the    cause    of    the    Union." 

"  Oh,  my  son  !  "  —  Mrs.  Leeson's  hands 
came  together  with  a  convulsive  clasp, — 
"  do  you  know  what  you  do  ?  You  are 
arming  against  James,  —  brother  against 
brother  ! " 

''I  have  no  brother,  madam,"  said  Mr. 
Leeson.  "  That  relationship  was  broken 
months    ago." 

"I  fear  so,"  said  his  mother,  with  a 
groan ;  "  but  oh,  Frederick,  he  is  still  my 
son ! " 

''  Shall    we     stay    here  ? "     asked     Addle, 


THE   MORNING  SCENE.  283 

whose  presence  had  been  forgotten  by 
both.  "  How  shall  we  get  mamma  away, 
and   where    shall   we    go   to  ? " 

'Tor  the  present  we  shall  be  compelled 
to  remain  here,"  replied  Frederick.  "  Af- 
ter the  repulse  and  loss  they  have  had, 
these  men  will  not  be  in  a  hurry  to  return 
to   the   attack.'^ 

"I  don't  know,"  said  his  mother;  "their 
passions    will   be   quickened   by  revenge." 

"At  least  we  shall  have  time  to  think 
over  the  matter,"  said  Frederick,  rising. 
"I  have  some  orders  to  give,  and  must 
leave  you.  Try  to  be  composed,  my  dear 
mother ;  all  danger  is  over.  We  have 
great  reasons  for  thankfulness  in  our  for- 
tunate   escape." 

They  had,  indeed,  reasons  enough  to  draw 
a   prayer   from   the    most    irreverent    heart. 

Millicent  was  standing  in  the  hall-door, 
as  Frederick  went  down,  in  the  act  of 
stepping  out.  He  put  his  hand  upon  her 
arm,    and   drew   her   gently    in. 

"  These    sights    outside   are   not   for   you, 


284  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

Millicent,"  he  said,  in  a  tone  of  grave 
earnestness.  "  Those  wretched  men  have 
paid  for  their  wanton  violence  with  their 
lives.  I  am  about  to  send  to  their  fami- 
lies." 

^'  You  know  them  ? "  asked  Millicent, 
shuddering. 

''  Two  of  them  ;  the  one  farther  down  in 
the    garden    I    am   unable    to   recognize." 

''  Ob,  it  is  horrible !  "  said  Millicent,  wring- 
ing her  hands.  "  What  wretchedness  it  will 
bring   into    their   homes  !  " 

An  inexplicable  expression  of  pain  passed 
over  Mr.  Leeson's  face.  Millicent  caught 
it  as  she  looked  up ;  but  she  did  not 
dream  of  its  source,  —  that  the  friend  who 
had  warned  him,  and  through  whose  well- 
meant  caution  he  had  warded  off  this  night 
attack,  was  lying  there  among  those  life- 
less corpses. 


CHAPTER    XXXIII. 

THE   VILLAGE   DOCTOR. 

THE  village  doctor  speedily  obeyed  Mr. 
Leeson's  summons,  under  the  impression 
that  he  was  called  upon  to  attend  his  late 
patient,  and  found,  much  to  his  surprise,  a 
wounded  negro  anxiously  watching  for  his 
appearance.  A  few  words  explained  the 
events  of  the  past  night,  and  the  worthy 
doctor  proceeded  to  call  out  his  best  skill 
for  the  occasion.  The  traces  of  the  deadly 
affray  were  still  visible  in  the  corpses  laid 
out  on  the  lawn,  the  trampled  shrubbery, 
and  the  scattered  glass  and  wood-work  of 
the  windows  of  the  sitting-room,  whose 
walls  and  furniture  were  •  marked  in  two 
or  three  places  by  pistol-shots,  as  well  as 
in  the  alarm  and  excitement  which  yet 
pervaded   the   household. 

285 


286  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

'*  Tills  will  be  no  safe  place  for  you, 
!Mr.  Leeson/'  said  the  friendly  doctor,  on 
taking  his  leave,  after  a  kind  inquiry  for 
Mrs.  Leeson,  who  was  quite  unable  to  see 
him.  ''  Your  life  is  of  very  little  conse- 
quence in  these  parts  after  this ;  you  had 
better   take    measures    to    get   away." 

"  And  leave  my  property  to  be  wasted 
by   these    villains?" 

"  No ;  your  family  will  protect  it,  as 
they  would  be  wholly  unable  to  do  under 
the  ban  of  your  presence.  The  house  and 
most  of  the  estate  lie  under  a  mortgage 
to   Leavitt,   I   have   been   told." 

'^  They  did."  Mr.  Leeson  turned  away 
his   face. 

"  It    has   been    paid   up   then  ? " 

"  No ;  Mr.  Leavitt  was  with  the  party 
last   night,  —  teas   with   them." 

''  I  understand.  This  is  a  horrible  affiiir, 
Mr.  Leeson.  But  what  have  you  done  ? 
I  always  thought  you  were  a  moderate  man, 
and   rather   on   the    safe   side." 

'^  Moderation    goes   for   nothing    in    thes© 


THE   VILLAGE   DOCTOR.  287 

times,"  was  the  gloomy  response.  "  My 
last  night's  experience  has  brought  me 
over    to    the    side    of   the    Union." 

"  Every  one  must  choose  for  himself," 
remarked  the  doctor.  ''My  profession  al- 
lows neutrality ;  but  I  must  be  cautious 
how  I  stretch  my  liberty,  I  don't  know, 
Mr.  Leeson,  as  it  will  be  prudent  for  me 
to    pay   you   a    second    visit." 

"  As  you  like.  You  think  the  poor  fel- 
low  has    a    chance   to    recover  ? " 

''A  small  one.  It  is  an  ugly  wound, 
and    there    will    be    some    infiamation." 

"I  will  send  to  you  for  medicines  unless 
you  interdict  me,"  said  his  host,  passing 
with  him  down  the  walk.  "  The  poor  fel- 
low has  been  wounded  in  defending  me 
and  my  family,  and  I  shall  do  my  best 
by   him." 

"  Oh,  certainly  !  Send  by  all  means ;  that 
can  be  managed  in  a  way  to  make  no 
trouble." 

Tiie-  sun  was  up;  the  glowing  flowers 
of  one   little    plat  in   the  garden  shone  with 


288  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

human    blood,   where   they  lay  thickly  tram- 
pled   under   foot. 

Frederick  turned  from  the  unpleasant 
sight ;  the  fresh  air,  the  dewy  fragrance 
of  the  morning,  sickened  upon  his  senses 
with  the  contrasts  around  him.  He  Avent 
in  to  give  orders  to  have  the  wounded 
man  carried  by  his  comrades  to  a  com- 
fortable chamber,  and  to  desire  Millicent 
to  see  that  his  immediate  wants  were  at- 
tended to.  His  own  wound  was  beginning 
to  grow  painful;  he  had  declined  to  have 
it  examined  by  the  surgeon,  believing  it 
to  be  a  mere  flesh  scratch ;  but,  on  re- 
moving the  bandage,  he  found  it  to  show 
in  the  strong  light  of  a  more  serious  char- 
acter than  he  had  at  first  supposed;  still, 
it  was  not  likely  to  prove  a  serious  matter, 
but  one    which  his   own   skill   could   master. 

Breakfast  this  morning  was  a  sober  meal; 
it  was  gone  through  as  usual.  Millicent 
and  AdJle  came  to  their  places  at  the 
table ;  but  very  little  was  tasted.  When 
Frederick  quitted    the   table,  a  message  was 


THE   VILLAGE   DOCTOR.  289 

brought  bim  by  Dinah,  and  he  went  up 
again   to    his    mother's    chamber. 

Left  to  herself,  Mrs.  Leeson's  hvehest 
apprehensions  had  returned,  and  she  had 
sent  for  her  son  to  urge  upon  him  the 
necessity    of  his   immediate   flight. 

"  They  have  no  enmity  against  us,"  she 
urged ;  ^'  it  is  you  they  want.  As  James's 
mother  and  sister,  no  insults  would  be  of- 
fered us.  The  very  defencelessness  of  our 
position  alone  would  protect  us.  It  is  my 
desire  that  you  leave  us,  and  provide  for 
your   safety." 

Frederick  hesitated.  He  had  listened  a 
few  moments  before  to  the  same  argu- 
ment. It  was  his  settled  purpose  to  join 
the  Uuion  army,  a  detachment  of  which, 
as  he  had  been  for  the  last  few  days 
aware,  was  now  at  Lexington,  rapidly  re- 
ceiving enlistments.  But  how  to  abandon 
his  property,  and,  most  of  all,  his  unpro- 
tected family,  in  the  present  state  of  af- 
fairs,   was    a    serious    question. 

"  You    involve    us   in    your   peril    by    re- 


290  MILLICENT    IIALFOHD. 

moining  here,"  persisted  bis  motlier.  ''Af- 
ter what  has  taken  place,  your  life  is  in 
danger  at  every  hour.  If  you  venture  a 
few  rods  from  your  own  door,  you  may 
be  shot  in  broad  daylight.  The  only  safe- 
ty  for   you    lies   in    immediate    flight." 

It  was  not  a  pleasant  picture ;  but  it 
had  the  merit  of  truth.  Frederick  drew  a 
deep  breath,  as  his  mother's  thin  fingers 
clasped   upon   his. 

"  This  anxiety  is  killing  me,"  she  plead- 
ed. "  I  have  suspected  your  danger  for 
the   last  few   da^^s." 

If  he  could  take  her  with  him  to  a 
place  of  safety  !  Her  son  thought  over 
the  matter  anxiously.  The  recollection  of 
their  relatives  at  Belmont  occurred  to  him 
as  it  had  done  to  Adele ;  but  a  second 
glance  at  his  mother's  wan  face  upon  the 
pillow  showed  the  hopelessness  of  this  plan. 
She  had  changed  much  in  the  last  few 
days ;  he  understood  now  that  the  secret 
which  he  had  hoped  withheld  from  her 
had  been  fully  guessed  by  her  anxious 
fears. 


THE    VILLAGE   DOCTOR.  291 

"  Once  to  know  you  in  safety,  I  shall 
be  content/'  she  said.  ''  They  will  not 
harm  us ;  we  have  done  nothing  to  dis- 
please  them." 

It  was  a  hard  struggle.  On  the  one 
hand,  Frederick  knew  the  ineffectual  char- 
acter of  the  resistance  it  might  be  in  his 
power  to  offer  to  a  second  and  better- 
sorted  attack,  which  would  be  sure  to  be 
brought  against  him,  should  he  remain  in 
his  hostile  neighborhood ;  on  the  other, 
could  he  be  sure  that  the  avowed  fact 
of  his  absence  would  be  a  sufficient  pro- 
tection  for   his   helpless    family  ? 


CHAPTER     XXXIV. 

millicext's  discovery. 

MR.  LEESOX'S  decision  was  made  upon 
quitting  his  mother's  cliamber.  To 
remain  where  he  was  would  answer  no 
good  purpose,  beside  involving  his  fam- 
ily in  his  danger.  Tie  could  discern  that 
the  present  state  of  aifairs  was  not  by  any 
means  a  permanent  one.  He  had  little  doubt 
that  an  active  Union  feeling,  smothered  for 
the  present  under  the  hand  of  mob  rule, 
pervaded  the  breasts  of  many,  wanting 
only  a  sufficient  organization  and  protec- 
tion to  be  called  out.  This  step  he  was 
about  to  take  might  enable  him  to  furnish 
the    latter   at    no    distant    day. 

There   was  little   time   to   be   lost.      Fred- 
erick proceeded  to  call    his  servant,  and  or- 

292 


millicent's  discovery.  293 

dered  him  to  pack  his  vahse.  Then  he 
turned  his  steps  to  the  chamber  occupied 
by  the  wounded  negro,  where  he  had  •  Kt- 
tle  doubt  he  should  find  Milhcent.  The 
door  stood  ajar;  she  was  bending  over  the 
couch,  with  a  cup  of  some  coohng  bever- 
age   in    her   hand. 

Frederick's  step  caught  her  ear ;  she 
turned  toward  him,  set  down  the  cup,  and 
came   out   to   meet   him. 

"  He  seems  very  sick,"  she  said,  in  a 
low  voice,  aUuding  to  her  charge.  ''  When 
will   the    doctor   come    again?" 

"  I  have  come  to  tell  j^ou  that  I  am 
going  away,"  said  Frederick,  without  an- 
swering her  question.  ^'  I  have  just  given 
orders   to   Joe    to   pack   my   valise." 

Millicent's  face  brightened  a  little  of  the 
shadow  which  hung  over  it;  she  looked 
relieved. 

^'  I  am  glad  you  are  going,"  she  said, 
simply. 

"  I  shall  set  out  for  Lexington,"  pursued 
Mr.   Leeson,   "  and  join   the   army    which  is 


294  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

gatliering  there.  Millicent,  I  sliall  be  com- 
pelled to  leave  the  care  of  my  mother,  and 
the  interests  of  the  family,  in  your  hands 
in    my   absence/' 

"I  will  try  to  be  faithful,"  said  Milli- 
cent, her  suffused  eyes  and  colorless  face 
showing   how    deeply    she    felt   the    trust. 

"I  sliall  hear  from  you  daily?"  said 
Frederick ;  "  you  will  not  neglect  to  write 
me?  If  a  lengthened  silence  should  fall  on 
your  side,  I  shall  return  here  at  any  haz- 
ard. It  is  hard  to  leave  my  mother,  but 
absolutely  impossible,  in  her  present  weak 
condition,  to  remove  her  to  a  place  of 
safety." 

Millicent   knew   that    it    was    so. 

"  The  doctor  will  not  come  again,"  ob- 
served Frederick,  dropping  his  voice,  as 
he  glanced  into  the  open  chamber.  ''  He 
has  promised  instructions ;  you  will  have 
to    send    for   them." 

Millicent    understood   the    restriction. 

'•'  If  any  danger  should  come  to  your 
knowledge,  do  not  hesitate  to  write  me 
at    once    and   fully." 


millicent's  discovery.  295 

"Your  valise  be  packed,  mas'er/'  called 
Joe,   from   the    foot    of  the    stairs. 

"Yery  well,  Joe;  I  will  be  down  in  a 
moment." 

Frederick  took  his  cousin's  hand.  Its 
pulses  trembled  with  the  quickness  of  a 
fever  heat  as  it  lay  in  his.  The  excite- 
ments of  the  past  night  had  evidently 
wrought   upon   her   nerves. 

'^Good-by,  Milhcent/'  he  said,  in  a  low 
voice,  not  quite  free  from  emotion  upon 
his  own  part,  and,  dropping  her  passive 
fingers,    stepped   away. 

He  went  on  to   take  leave  of  his  mother 
and    sister,    while    Millicent,    after    turning 
back   to    attend    to    the   wants    of    her    pa- 
tient, stole  up  to   her  own  chamber   to  find 
a   few   moments    by   herself.      Her   window 
commanded    a    view    of    the    bend    of    the 
road      which     Frederick     must     pass;      she 
strained     her     eyes     upon     it    through    the 
thick   foliage  to  be   rewarded  in  a  few  mo- 
ments   by   a    glimpse    of    two    horsemen,— 
the  master   and   his    servant   riding   rapidly 
on. 


296  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

Millicent  drew  a  deep  breatli  as  slio 
turned  away,  and  the  next  instant  her 
face  dropped  in  her  hands,  while  a  burn- 
ing glow  sufifused  her  cheek.  She  had 
made  a  discovery  for  herself  an  hour 
ago  which  a  more  worldly-learned  woman 
would  have  made  earlier.  She  could  not 
be  thrown  daily  into  the  society  of  her 
Cousin  Frederick,  and  under  such  peculiar 
circumstances  as  the  last  few  weeks  had 
brought  about,  without  experiencing  the 
attractions  of  his  person  and  manners.  A 
deep  and  hopeless  attachment  had  gradu- 
ally grown  up  in  her  heart.  If  she  had 
but  had  a  mother  to  warn  her;  if  her 
aunt  had  only  taken  that  kind  part;  but 
how  should   she  dream  of  her  presumption  ? 

"  I  must  get  the  better  of  this,"  thought 
Millicent.  "  It  will  never  do.  How  I  wish 
he  had  not  asked  me  to  write  to  him ! " 
She  blushed  again,  this  time  at  her  disin- 
gcnuousness,  and  stood  up  before  the  mir- 
ror to  arrange  her  disordered  braids.  It 
was    a    pretty    face    which    the    oval    glass 


millicext's  discovery.  297 

gave  back,  quite  changed  from  the  wan, 
sallow  girl  who  had  come  to  Rossenville 
but  a  few  months  back.  Health  and  ap- 
preciation work  wonders,  —  the  first  had 
tinted  the  wan  complexion  with  the  fair- 
ness of  the  hly;  the  last  had  given  a 
deeper  light  to  the  really  lustrous  dark 
eyes,  and  changed  the  whole  of  that  shy, 
awkward  exterior  which  is  the  worst  en- 
emy to  grace.  As  far  as  beauty  was  con- 
cerned, Millicent's  timid  eyes  could  not 
deny  to  herself  that  she  stood  a  fair 
chance  of  winning  Mr.  Frederick  Leeson's 
heart.  He  had  been  kind  to  her  too ;  had 
leaned  upon  her  assistance  in  these  hours 
of  peril,  and,  in  his  departure,  had  left  to 
her  a  most  sacred  charge ;  but  the  dis- 
parity of  station,  still  to  be  got  over,  was 
enough  in  itself  to  rebuke  her  ambitious 
thoughts. 

''What  shall  I  do?"  murmured  the  poor 
girl,    dropping   her   head   again. 

To  quit  this  place,  to  begin  the  strug- 
gle   to    forget    him,   to   leave   out   of    sight 


298  MILLICENT    IIALFORD. 

all  which  could  recall  him  by  association, 
her  judgment  told  her  would  be  the  wisest 
plan;  but  duty  held  her  here,  even  if  ne- 
cessity had  not.  She  could  not  leave  her 
aunt  in  her  helpless  condition,  or  her  young 
cousin.  The  unusual  circumstances  of  the 
last  weeks  had  reversed  her  position,  and 
the  relationship  which  on  her  coming  had 
been  so  coldly  ignored  stood  forth  now  in 
its   full   force. 

'^I  will  do  what  is  before  me  to  do,'' 
was  her  sensible  thought,  "  and  leave  the 
issues   to    God." 

She  went  down  to  her  aunt's  chamber 
to  receive  what  instructions  Mrs.  Leeson 
might  have  for  her.  They  were  very  few. 
Her  aunt  seemed  too  deeply  merged  in  her 
grief  at  parting  with  her  son  to  be  capa- 
ble of  giving  much  attention  to  outward 
things.  She  might  rouse  from  this  state 
shortly;  but  Millicent  saw  that  the  direc- 
tion of  matters  depended  at  present  upon 
herself.  She  did  not  think  it  best  to  ac- 
quaint   the    servants    with    the    very    indefi- 


millicent's  discovery.  299 

nite  length  of  their  master's  absence,  but 
rather  to  place  it  at  a  short  duration, 
which  would  lessen  materially  the  difficul- 
ties to  be  expected  in  their  management. 
That  some  of  them  would  seize  upon  the 
opportunity  now  offered  to  obtain  their  lib- 
erty she  had  little  doubt;  and  should  such 
an  emergency  arise,  she  felt  that  her  con- 
science would  allow  her  to  throw  very  few 
obstacles  in  their  way.  The  wounded  ne- 
gro, she  soon  ascertained,  held  the  part  of 
Mr.  Leeson's  overseer,  to  which  his  intel- 
ligence, not  less  than  his  master's  favor 
had  raised  him  above  his  comrades,  and  in 
his  sickness  it  was  necessary  for  her  to 
make  a  new  selection.  Here  she  conde- 
scended to  ask  Dinah's  advice,  greatly  to 
the    satisfaction    of  that    person. 

Under  the  circumstances,  she  decided  it 
to  be  best  for  the  negroes  to  return  to 
their  old  quarters.  If  another  attack  should 
be  menaced,  no  resistance  could  be  offered, 
and  their  presence  in  the  house,  coupled 
with   the    events   of  the   past   night,   would, 


300  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

in  such  an  event,  prove  a  serious  cause 
of  irritation.  A  share  of  her  attention  was 
due  in  the  sick-chamber,  where  she  in- 
stalled Rose ;  and  late  in  the  afternoon,  as 
the  negro's  symptoms  continued  to  grow 
steadil}"  worse,  she  sent  Jim  to  the  doctor 
for  advice  and  medicine,  writing  down 
carefully  a  detail  of  the  unfavorable  symp- 
toms for  his  perusal.  Perhaps  he  would 
allow  himself  to  be  prevailed  upon  to  come 
and  dress  the  wound  —  a  service  which 
she  shrank  from  taking  upon  herself,  as 
well  from  her  woman's  cowardice  as  igno- 
rance—  when  the  fact  of  Mr.  Leeson's  ab- 
rupt departure  should  get  abroad;  but  of 
this    she    could    entertain   little    hope. 


CHAPTER     XXXV. 

A   STOLEN   VISIT. 

ONE,  two,  three  weeks  went  by.  The 
family  at  Wheatley  Place  began  to  dis- 
miss their  fears,  and  to  fall  back  in  secu- 
rity upon  very  nearly  the  old  tranquil 
hfe.  The  wounded  negro,  under  Millicent's 
skilful  nursing,  grew  better,  and  at  the  end 
of  July  was  able  to  take  his  place  in  the 
field.  Mrs.  Leeson,  relieved  of  a  part  of 
her  anxiety,  revived  sujSSciently  to  leave 
her  bed.  Letters  came  often  from  Freder- 
ick to  his  sister  and  cousin,  with  thoughtful 
postscripts  to  his  mother,  each  glowing  with 
the  ardor  of  the  soldier,  and  showing  more 
md  more  how  fully  he  had  thrown  his 
•leart  into  the  cause  which  he  had  at  this 
late  hour  espoused. 

301 


302  MILLICEXT    IIALFORD. 

"  Frederick  was  designed  for  a  soldier," 
observed  his  mother,  laying  down  one  of 
these  hastily-scrawled  sheets ;  "  he  has 
found  his  vocation.  God  grant,"  she  added, 
inoiirnfully,  "  that  he  may  be  preserved 
through  these  coming  battles,  and  spared  a 
meeting  with  James." 

"There  will  be  a  great  battle  soon,"  said 
Adcle,  to  whom  the  news  of  the  day  had 
begun  to  wear  an  absorbing  interest.  "  Do 
you  know  General  Polk  has  taken  Cohim- 
bus?  What  if  his  army  should  advance  this 
way  !  " 

Millicent  sat  at  tlie  open  window,  holding 
a  letter  which  Jim  had  brought  her  with 
Mrs.  Leeson's.  It  was  from  her  step-mother. 
Her  eldest  son,  James,  had  fallen  in  the 
battle  of  Bethel.  A  mystery  had  rested 
upon  his  fate  for  several  weeks  ;  but  at  last 
it  had  been  mournfully  solved,  and  placed 
beyond  a  doubt.  A  tear  fell  from  Millicent's 
eye  upon  the  sheet.  She  thought  of  the 
kind-hearted  boy  who  had  grown  up  with 
her,  a  frank,  manly  youth,  whose  future  had 


A   STOLEN   VISIT.  303 

shown  full  of  promise.  To-day  he  was  lying 
in  a  soldier's  bloody  grave,  the  spot  perhaps 
unmarked. 

"  How  many  more  such  sacrifices  will 
God  require  for  the  sins  of  our  nation?" 
she    pondered,  forcing  back  her  tears. 

It  would  not  do  to  disquiet  her  aunt  with 
her  bad  news.  She  put  away  her  letter, 
and  in  a  few  moments,  seized  an  opportu- 
nity of  retiring  by   herself  to  her   chamber. 

"  Be  the  Union  army  coming,  Miss  Hal- 
ford?"  asked  Rose,  that  night,  .as  she  lin- 
gered a  few  moments  in  the  kitchen.  "  Jim 
says  it  is,  and  that  it  v/ill  make  us  all  free." 

"  Your  master  is  in  the  Union  army, 
Rose,"  said  Millicent,  in  a  tone  of  grave 
reproof. 

The  dream  of  liberty  had  entered  into 
even  this  thoughtless  girl's  mind;  the  hour 
of  fruition  might  be  indeed  at  hand. 

Millicent,  with  her  Christian  faith,  saw 
that  events  were  thitherward  tending ;  but 
her  eyes,  like  ours,  were  sealed  to  the  fright- 
ful waste  of  blood  and  treasure  which  must 


304  MILLICE^'T   nALFORD. 

briug  this  blessing.     It  was  the  old  story  of 
Pharaoh,   who   would   not   let   his    bondmen 

go- 

The  end  of  August  brought  a  visit  from 
Frederick,  a  sudden  and  quite  unexpected 
event. 

It  was  in  the  dusk  of  evening ;  tea  was 
over.  Mrs.  Leeson,  who  had  come  down- 
stairs on  the  previous  day  for  the  first  time 
in  many  weary  weeks,  sat  in  her  easy-chair 
by  a  window.  Adele  had  stepped  out  into 
the  garden.  Millicent  was  sitting  not  far 
from  her  aunt,  engaged  in  building  one  of 
the  quiet  air-castles  to  which  she  was  wont 
now  and  then  to   surrender  her  silent  hours. 

A  quick,  firm  step  in  the  hull  startled 
them  both  from  their  reveries ;  the  door 
was  flung  open,  and  ere  Mrs.  Leeson  could 
finish  her  short  exclamation  of  alarm,  she 
found  herself  reassured  by  her  son's  well- 
known  voice,  and  the  warm  clasp  of  his 
hand. 

"  My  dear  mother,  this  is  indeed  pleasant 
to  find  you  here." 


A  STOLEN  VISIT.  305 

^'  Oh,  Frederick,  what  ■  has  led  you  to  take 
such  a  risk  ?  If  you  should  be  caught ! 
The  neighborhood  would  be  in  arms  against 
you,  if  they  should  dream  of  your  being 
here.'^ 

"  I  have  no  intention  of  being  caught, 
mother.  I  came  rapidly  ;  I  have  only  three 
days'  furlough,  one  of  which  is  used  up. 
Millicent,  is  that  you  ?  '' 

He  might  well  ask.  The  darkness  in  the 
room  hid  her  face ;  he  could  discern  little 
more  than  the  outlines  of  a  girlish  figure. 
She  came  forward  to  give  him  her  hand. 
She  would  not  trust  herself  with  a  word 
to  add  to  Mrs.  Leeson's  already-quickened 
fears ;  but  the  knowledge  of  his  danger 
made  her  feel  quite  faint.  She  said  some- 
thing about  a  light,  and  stepped  back  to  the 
door  opening  on  the  passage  which  led  to 
the  kitchen. 

^'What  ails  you.  Miss  Halford?  You 
are  as  white  as  a  sheet,"  said  Lizzie,  as  she 
went  in. 

'•  Lizzie,  can  you  keep  a  secret  ? "  asked 
Millicent. 


306  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

"  I  tink  I  can,  Miss  Millicent.  Is  it  'bout 
mas'er  ? '' 

"  Yes ;  he  has  come  home ;  but  his  life 
wont  be  safe  for  an  hour  if  the  neighbor- 
hood knows  of  it.  We  must  keep  his  be- 
ing here  among  ourselves  ;  it  wont  be  for 
long." 

Lizzie  entered  upon  the  secrecy  required 
of  her  with  zest ;  she  would  answer  for  her 
fellow-servants.  Millicent  ordered  a  fresh 
supper  to  be  got,  and  went  back.- 

Ad6\e  was  sitting  on  the  sofa  by  her 
brother  as  she  came  in,  her  arm  around  his 
neck.  Frederick  looked  handsome  in  his 
fresh  uniform. 

'^  We  have  no  visitors,''  his  mother  was 
saying.  ''  I  believe  all  show  of  neighbor- 
hood toward  us  has  been  dropped  since  you 
left." 

A  state  of  things  to  be  expected.  The 
loyalty  of  James  Leeson  could  preserve  his 
brother's  roof  over  the  heads  of  his  helpless 
mother  and  young  sister  when  that  roof 
was  well  known  to  be  under  a  heavy  mort- 


A   STOLEN   VISIT.  307 

gage  to  the  heirs  of  one  of  the  late  incen- 
diary party  ;  but  it  could  not  protect  them 
farther  from  the  excited  state  of  feeling 
which  had  followed  upon  Frederick's  too 
successful   night   resistance. 

The  tea-bell  rang  shortly,  and  Milhcent 
preceded  Frederick  out  to  take  her  usual 
place  at  the  table,  and  preside  at  his   meal. 

"You  have  spoken  for  the  silence  of  the 
servants,  Millicent  ?  '^  observed  Frederick, 
helping  himself  to  the  freshly-prepared  toast 
with  the  hearty  appetite  which  his  long  day's 
fast  had  engendered. 

Millicent  wondered  how  he  had  guessed 
her  immediate  precaution  as  she  answered 
in  the  affirmative. 

"  I  can  count  on  their  fidelity,"  he  re- 
marked, —  "  on  the  house  servants,  at  least. 
The  field  hands  need  not  be  told.  I  shall 
have  to  keep  close  to-morrow,  I  suppose, 
to  escape  the  possibility  of  a  glimpse  from 
prying  eyes." 

"  You  start  on  your  way  back  to-morrow 
night  ?  "  queried  Millicent. 


308  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

"  Yes,  that  is  the  length  of  my  leave  of 
absence, — just  a  glimpse  of  you  all  to  as- 
sure myself  that  things  are  going  on  as 
favorably  as  they  are  represented  in  your 
letters.  I  did  hope" — his  voice  fell  to  a 
slightly-lowered  tone  —  "to  make  arrange- 
ments for  my  mother's  removal,  her  journey 
to  follow  upon  mine  by  easy  stages ;  but  I 
see  to-night  that  my  plan  cannot  be  carried 
out  for  the  present." 

"  I  was  wrong,'*  said  Millicent,  with  a  pang 
of  self-reproach,  "  to  write  you  so  cheerfully 
of  her  improved  health;  but  I  understood 
all  your  anxieties." 

"  It  has  done  no  harm,"  returned  Mr. 
Leeson.  "  I  dislike  to  break  in  upon  my 
mothers  impressions  of  securit}' ;  but  I  fear 
that  she  is  entirely  deceived.  I  base  my 
opinion  on  some  information  received  from 
Miss  Bennet,  who  joined  her  father  at  our 
camp  a  few  days  ago." 

Millicent  looked  surprised.  She  had  heard 
of  Mrs.  Bennet's  death  through  Dinah,  and 
that  the  two  young  children  had  been  sent 


A   STOLEN   VISIT.  309 

North  in  the  charge  of  a  relative  ;  but  of 
Miss  Bennet's  whereabouts  she  had  no  idea, 
least  of  all  that  she  had  set  out  for  Lexing- 
ton. 

''  What  is  to  be  apprehended  ?  "  she  asked, 
anxiously,    as    Frederick     continued     silent.- 
^'  Certainly  this  band  of  wicked  men  will  not 
war  upon  helpless  women?" 

"  Their  object  is  to  run  off  my  negroes 
and  waste  my  property/'  said  Frederick. 
"  Reasons  which  you  may  be  at  no  loss  to 
guess  have  led  them  to  hesitate  in  their 
plans,  and  produced  a  divided  state  of  feel- 
ing among  them.  Without  doubt,  too,  they 
have  counted  upon  an  opportunity  like  the 
present,  and  still  hope  that,  lulled  by  a  false 
belief  of  security,  I  shall  commit  the  impru- 
dence of  putting  myself  in  their  power." 

Millicent  shuddered. 

"  I  shall  use  every  precaution,"  he  added, 
glancing  at  her  disturbed  face.  "  If  the  se- 
cret of  my  short  stay  here  goes  no  farther 
than  my  family  and  the  house  servants,  there 
is  hardly  a  possibility  of  discovery." 


310  MILLICENT   IIALFORD. 

''  It  would  be  death  to  liis  mother  if  he 
sliould  be  taken,"  thought  MilHcent,  trying 
to  put  awa}'  the  selfish  picture  of  herself  as 
she  rose  to  lead  the  way  back  to  the  sit- 
ting-room. 


CHAPTER     XXXVI. 

JIM. 

R.  LEESON  would  have  entertained  a 
less  happy  confidence  in  his  security, 
could  he  have  witnessed  a  little  scene  which 
took  place  almost  in  the  shadow  of  the 
gray,  irregular  line  of  out-buildings  an  hour 
later,  while  he  sat  talking  with  his  sister 
and  Millicent,  his  mother  having  just  re- 
tired to  her  chamber  under  the  care  of 
Dinah.  The  moon  was  at  full^  and  shed  a 
flood  of  silvery  light  over  the  short  grass 
of  the  lawn,  the  dew-sprinkled  beds  of  the 
garden,  and  the  clump  of  slender  sycamores 
down  the  walk.  Jim,  the  stable-boy,  stood 
leaning  against  a  tree,  in  an  attitude  more 
suggestive  of  comfort  than  of  picturesque 
effect,   his    eyes  strained  in   the  direction  of 

311 


312  milltci:nt  iialfodd. 

tlie  kitclien  windows,  in  the  evident  expec- 
tation of  being  joined  by  some  one.  Pres- 
ently the  door  opposite  to  him  unclosed  ;  a 
light  figure  stepped  out,  and  Rose  tripped 
lightly  toward  him. 

"  What  does  you  tink,  Jim  ? "  she  ejacu- 
lated, when  the  first  greetings  suited  to  the 
occasion  had  passed.  "  Mas'er  Frederick  hab 
got  home, —  come  dis  night !  " 

A  sudden  gleam  of  interest  flashed  up 
into  Jim's  bright  eyes. 

"  You   hab  seen  him,  Rose  ?  " 

"  No,  Lizzie  told  me.  I  saw  Joe,  too,  in 
de  kitchen.  Dey  is  not  to  hab  it  told  ob 
dat  dey  be  here." 

'^  De  geramen  would  be  arter  Mas'er  Fred- 
erick if  dey  knew,"  said  Jim,  with  a  low 
chuckle. 

*'  Tears  like  dey  would ;  but  who's  to  tell 
ob  it?" 

Jim  glanced  up  at  the  out-buildings  whose 
shadow  lay  dark  over  the  green  grass.  The 
reverie  into  which  he  was  falling  made  him 
unconscious  for  the  moment  of  his  compan- 
ion's presence. 


JIM.  313 

Kose  pouted,  and  pulled  coquettishly  at 
the  bright-colored  shawl  which  lay  over  her 
shoulders. 

"  I  must  run  back,"  she  said ;  '^  Dinah 
will  miss  me.  She  said  she  had  a  lot  ob 
work  for  me  to  do  when  she  came  down 
from  missus'   chamber." 

Jim  made  no  attempt  to  detain  her,  but 
followed  her  graceful  movements  with  his 
eyes  as  she  glided  across,  and  disappeared 
through  the  lighted   door. 

Jim  had  not  forgotten  his  whipping,  ad- 
ministered first  at  the  direction  of  his  mis- 
tress, and  on  the  second  occasion  under  the 
orders  of  his  master,  Mr.  Frederick  Leeson. 
The  degradation  of  the  lash  had  burned  it- 
self into  his  soul.  Its  first  stroke  upon  his 
bare  shoulders  had  put  to  flight  every  sen- 
timent of  affection  toward  the  family  in 
Avliicli  he  had  been  reared.  Very  likely  he 
would  have  seized  upon  the  opportunity 
afforded  by  his  master's  absence  to  attempt 
a  second  plan  of  escape,  this  time  w^ith 
more  sanguine  hopes  of  success ;  but  a  mag- 


3U  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

net  held  him  back,  to  whose  attractions  all 
of  us  are  more  or  less  susceptible.  He 
could  not  leave  Rose ;  she  timidly  shrank 
from  becoming  the  companion  of  his  flight, 
and  though  the  subject  had  been  twice  or 
thrice  broached  between  them,  he  had  as 
yet  made  little  progress  in  overcoming  her 
fears.  If  overtaken  and  brought  back,  she 
well  knew  that  even  her  sex  could  not  save 
her  under  her  mistress'  hands  from  the 
cruel  punishment  of  the  lash.  She  drew 
many  a  wistful  sigh  over  the  golden-tinted 
picture  of  liberty  which  Jim's  eager  tongue 
painted ;  but  she,  poor  thing,  had  not  the 
courage  to  take  the  risk. 

The  demon  of  revenge  wrestled  for  mas- 
tery in  Jim's  breast  as  he  stood  unJer  the 
shadow  of  the  tree,  his  eyes  turned  now 
from  the  blazing  kitchen  windows  to  the 
more  tempered  light  which  stole  out  throngli 
a  displaced  curtain  in  the  sitting-room  be- 
yond, glistening  over  the  wet  vines  whicli 
twined  around  the  pillars  of  tlie  veranda. 
He   saw   in   imagination   the  cheerful  picture 


JIM.  315 

inside.  What  sympathy  had  he  with  it,  a 
slave  ?  He  took  a  step  forward,  a  heavy 
frown  darkening  his  face.  A  few  paces  be- 
yond would  take  him  within  the  range  of 
the  window;  he  could  satisfy  his  own 
sight. 

The  vines  lay  thick  around  the  white 
pillars,  the  moonlight  shimmering  over  their 
glossy  leaves.  The  low  windows  were 
open,  and  voices  stole  outside.  His  quick 
ear  was  at  no  loss  to  recognize  his  master's. 
He  crept  closer,  the  soft  turf  burying  his 
steps. 

Frederick  had  resumed  his  seat  on  the 
sofa  on  his  re-entrance  from  the  dining- 
room,  and  the  full  profile  of  his  face  con- 
fronted the  window.  His  young  sister, 
Adele,  was  beside  him,  her  countenance 
beaming  with  smiles.  Miss  Halford  sat  at 
a  little  distance,  her  hands  lying  in  her  lap, 
her  face  clouded  with  an  anxious  expression 
whenever  she  looked  up  at  Mr.  Leeson. 
Mrs.  Leeson's  vacant  easy-chair  showed  that 
she  had  retired. 


316  JII LUCENT    HALFOTJD. 

A  stern,  cruel  gleam  sliot  over  tlie  negro's 
face  as  he  crouched  clown,  peering  stealthily 
in.  All  his  struggling  purposes  were  con- 
firmed at  the  sight  of  his  master;  he  no 
longer  hesitated  upon  his   course. 

Creeping  back  witli  tlic  same  stealthy 
tread  which  had  borne  him  up  to  tlie  win- 
dow, Jim  stole  down  the  edge  of  the  car- 
riage-path and  stepped  into  the  road.  He 
showed  no  hesitation  as  to  his  course,  but 
struck  out  directly  for  tlie  house  of  a  near 
neighbor,  whose  strong  political  proclivities 
he  had  on  more  than  one  occasion  overheard 
discussed  by  his  master's  guests.  He  had, 
in  fact,  shared  in  the  former  unfortunate 
night  attack  on  Mr.  Leeson's  dwelling,  and 
came  off  with  a  slight  wound  on  the  occa- 
sion, which  fact,  though  he  had  at  the  time 
taken  some  prudent  pains  to  suppress  it, 
was  the  property  of  the  neighborhood. 

Thither  Jim  shaped  his  way,  and  gave  a 
modest  knock  at  the  door  of  the  back  en- 
trance. 

The    woman   who    came  tg    the    door   rec- 


jBi.  317 

ognized  him  as  one  of  the  servants  at 
Wheatley  Place,  and  regarded  him  witli 
some  surprise.  Mr.  Kawdon  was  in,  she 
said;  but  what  was  Jim's  errand?  Mas'er 
wouldn't  want  to  be  disturbed  for  nothing. 

Jim  replied  that  his  errand  was  of  the 
greatest  importance,  and  that  he  must  see 
Mas'er  Rawdon  at   once. 

The  woman  went  in  and  presently  came 
out  saying  that  he  had  retired  to  bed  sick, 
and  could  not  be  seen  for  the  night. 

Here  was  a  diflSculty  for  Jim  to  get  over ; 
but  his  genius  proved  equal  to  the  emergen- 
cy. He  repeated  that  his  errand  was  ^^  ob 
de  bery  last  importance,''  and  he  would 
take  upon  hhnself  dat  Mas'er  Rawdon  would 
not  be  displeased  if  he  was  shown  up  to 
his  chamber. 

The  woman  went  back,  and  presently  re- 
turned, telling  Jim  to  follow  her. 

Mr.  Rawdon  lay  in  bed,  groaning  with  a 
severe  headache,  and  in  a  state  of  mind 
somewhat  unpropitious  for  the  reception  of 
his   visitor. 


318  MILLTCENT   HALFORD. 

''What  brings  you  lierc,  you  black  rascal?" 
lie  began.  "  Out  with  your  errand,  and  bo 
quick  over  it." 

"  Mas'er  Frederick  is  home,  sar,"  said  Jim, 
dropping  his  voice  to  a  tone  befitting  the 
importance   of  his  communication. 

"The  devil  he  is!"  exclaimed  tlie  sick 
man,  starting  up  on  his  elbow,  —  "and  he 
sent  you  over  to  tell  me,  did  he  ?  " 

"No,  mas'er;  I  crept  off.  lie's  just 
come." 

Mr.  Rawdon  lay  back,  and  liegan  to  gather 
the  clothes  over  him,  his  lace  working  with 
excitement.  "  How  long  is  he  going  to 
stay,  Jim  ?  "  he  asked. 

Jim,  as  the  reader  knows,  had  received 
no  information  upon  this  point;  but  it  did 
not  suit  his  dignity  to  appear  ignorant. 
"  Two  days,  mas'er  ;  he  can't  get  off  for  a 
longer  time  dan  dat." 

''How  unlucky!"  muttered  Rawdon,  run- 
ninfr  over  a  sudden  train  of  thoiiLiht.  "Del- 
ford  is  out  of  the  way,  so  is  Foucliard. 
This  cursed    headache   ties  me    hure.     Jim," 


JIM.  319 

lie  added,  spealdng  aloud,  "  be  you  sure  of 
the  length  of  your  master's  visit?" 

"  Sure  as  de  gospel,  master,"  responded 
Jim,  with  an  honest  air  of  indignation  at 
beioir  doubted. 

"He's  paying  an  old  grudge,  no  doubt, 
this  nigger,"  soliloquized  Mr.  Rawdon  from 
under  the  bed-clothes.  ^'This  shows  what 
comes  of  Leeson's  fooling  his  niggers." 

Jim  had  finished  his  errand,  and  after 
shuffling  awkwardly  with  his  feet  in  the 
pause,  turned  toward  the  door.  Mr.  Rawdon 
arrested  him  as  he  put  his  hand  on  the 
latch.  "  We  will  pay  your  master  a  visit 
before  long,"  he  said.  "  Couldn't  you  con- 
trive to  let  us  in,  —  say  at  a  proper  hour 
to-morro^v    night  ?  " 

'^  I  sleeps  in  de  stable-loft,  mas'er." 

"  That  settles  the  question  then ;  but 
couldn't  you  contrive  to  hide  away  in  the 
house  ?  " 

"  I  darsri't  risk  it,  naas'er.  Old  Dinah,  she 
be  eberywhere." 

Mr.  Rawdon  considered,  holding  his  visitor 
by  an  imperative  gesture  to  the   door. 


320  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

The  pain  iu  his  head  had  lulled  for  a 
moment  under  the  shock  of  the  exciting 
intelligence  of  Mr.  Frederick  Leeson's  re- 
turn, to  resume  its  seat,  as  all  such  paroxysms 
do,  when  the  first  start  was  over. 

"If  you  could  depend  upon  one  of  your 
fellow-servants,''  he  said.  "  Haven't  you  a 
friend  you   could  trust  in  the  house  ?  " 

Jim  thought  of  Rose;  but  he  was  very 
sure  she  would  not  be  equal  to  the  emer- 
gency. "  I'll  do  de  best  I  can,  nias'er," 
he  ventured. 

'^  Very  well,  and  let  us  know.  To-morrow 
nicfht  it  is.  We  will  be  on  hand  at  twelve. 
I  wouldn't  mind  giving  you  a  handsome 
present,  my  good  fellow,  if  you  Avill  help  us 
to  carry  this  out  without  risk." 

Jim's  eyes  brightened,  and  his  lips  part- 
ed, displaying  two  pearly  rows  of  ivory. 
Mr.  Rawdon  had  his  man,  —  at  least,  he 
thought  so  ;  but  the  wisest  of  us  will  fall 
into  mistakes.  Money  was  not  Jim's  pas- 
sion ;  revenge  and  liberty  were  just  now 
the    dearest    matters    in    his    consideration. 


JIM. 


321 


He  would  have  been  incapable  of  selling  his 
master,  slave  as  he  was,  for  the  thirty 
pieces  of  silver,  much  less  for  promises 
whose  worthlessness  his  quick  wit  no  doubt 
detected.  He  bowed  a  respectful  good- 
night to  Mr.  Rawdon,  and  took  himself  out. 
21 


CHAPTER    XXXVII. 

jm  AM)   ROSE. 

IT  was  a  quiet  walk  home  in  the  moon- 
light. Jim  quickened  his  steps,  keep- 
ing a  stealthy  eye  on  the  open  road  as  Ave  11 
as  the  clumps  of  bushes  which  here  and 
there  flowered  along  the  highway,  and  had 
the  good  fortune  to  turn  into  his  master's 
carriage-path  without  having  encountered  a 
solitary  pedestrian.  He  reached  the  shad- 
ow of  the  stable  buildings,  and  flung  him- 
self down  lazily  on  the  wet  grass,  surrender- 
ing himself  to  a  fit  of  profound  reflection. 
It  was  liis  purpose  to  get  away  in  the 
confusion  which  would  follow  on  to-morrow 
night's  attack.  Eose,  of  course,  would  be 
his  companion.  The  consideration  to  follow 
was  how  he  should   shape   his   course.     He 

322 


JIM   AND   ROSE.  323 

had  little  knowledge  of  the  country.  To 
venture  into  a  railroad  train  without  a  pass 
would  be  certain  destruction.  He  could 
only  do  what  other  poor  fugitives  had  done 
before  him,  —  keep  on  in  whatever  course 
accident  might  open.  In  this  instance  there 
would  be  no  pursuit  to  fear,  no  harrying 
with  bloodhounds,  or  flaring  advertisement 
setting  forth,  with  frightful  distinctness,  his 
appearance,  and  offering  a  bounty  to  the 
first  man  who  would  restore  him,  alive  or 
dead ;  but  all  the  danger  lay  in  the  curios- 
ity of  the  people  he  might  meet  along  his 
route,  and  in  the  difficulty  of  gaining  direc- 
tion toward  those  friendly  Northern  cities 
to   which  all  his  hopes  culminated. 

The  light  flickered  and  disappeared  from 
the  sitting-room ;  the  family  w^ere  in  the 
act  of  retiring  to  their  beds ;  it  was  not  far 
from  midnight.  Jim  roused  himself  from  his 
recumbent  position,  and  betook  himself  to 
his  quarters  in  the  stable.  The  tired-out 
horses  which  had  borne  his  master  and  his 
fellow-servant   on   their  perilous  journey    of 


224  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

return  had  been  turned  into  a  neighboring 
pasture,  after  a  liberal  supply  of  grain,  fur- 
nished under  the  favorable  darkness.  As  Jim 
had  anticipated,  no  tokens  of  Mr.  Leeson's 
arrival  presented  themselves  in  the  out- 
buildings. 

Jim  climbed  up  the  ladder  to  his  usual 
quarters,  and  composed  himself  to  sleep  on 
the  soft  hay.  He  must  see  Rose  early  in 
the  morning,  the  only  part  of  the  day  in 
which  an  uninterrupted  interview  could  be 
procured,  and  confide  to  her  the  personal 
part  of  his  plans  ;  with  the  whole  he  dared 
not  trust  her.  It  would  be  easy  to  work 
upon  her  fears  by  the  intimation  of  anoth- 
er sale,  in  which  she  might  expect  to  be 
included,  and  so  to  force  her  tardy  consent 
to  flight.  Jim  turned  over  this  last  plan 
very  industriously  in  his  mind,  and  fell 
asleep  just  at  the  moment  of  its  comple- 
tion. 

It  was  broad  dayhght  when  Jim  awoke  ; 
the  sun  was  shining  cheerily  through  the 
chinks    in   the    stable.       His   toilet   was   al- 


JIM   AND   ROSE.  325 

ready  made ;  be  had  only  to  hnrry  down 
the  ladder,  emerge  from  the  open  door,  and 
send  his  scrutinizing  glance  in  the  direction 
of  the   kitchen. 

The  dew  lay  in  a  shower  of  brilliants  over 
the  grass ;  the  air  was  fresh  and  sweet.  A 
female  figure,  early  as  was  the  hour,  was 
flitting  about  among  the  beds  of  the  gar- 
den, gathering  a  choice  bouquet  for  the 
breakfast-room.  Of  course,  the  kitchen  was 
astir.  A  thick  smoke  w^as  ascending  from 
its  slender  chimney.  Lizzie  came  to  the 
door  for  air,  wdth  a  kettle  in  her  hand. 
Eose  appeared  at  the  window. 

Jim  sent  a  quick,  magnetic  gesture  over 
to  her,  and  presently  the  young  girl  came 
tripping  out  at  the  door  and  over  the  wet 
grass  toward  him. 

Jim  purposely  kept  his  place,  to  be  out 
of  ear-shot  of  the  house,  and  even  drew 
her  a  step  or  two  back  after  him  out  of 
sight  of  the  garden. 

''  Mas'er  be  going  to  sell  us,  Rose,"  he 
said,  in  a  low  voice.  "  Dat's  his  errand 
home.'^ 


326  MILLTCENT   HALFORD. 

The  poor  girl  clasped  her  bands  with  a 
faint  cry,  the  smiles  dying  away  from  her 
lips.  "  Be  you  sure,  Jim  ? "  she  asked, 
breathlessly.     "Who  told  you?" 

"  Somebody  dat  knew,"  said  Jim,  shak- 
ing liis  head.  "  Missus  be  going  away,  and 
mas'er  has  bargained  to  sell  us  all  off  but 
Dinah." 

The  story  was  plausible.  It  did  not  enter 
into  Rose's  innocent  faith  to  doubt  it;  sho 
had  caught  snatches  of  her  master's  conver- 
sation with  MilHcent  at  the  supper-table  the 
past  night,  which  strengthened  her  belief. 
Her  mistress  was  about  to  be  taken  away, 
and,  of  course,  the  household  would  be 
broken  up.  A  sale  must  follow.  Her  face 
dropped  in  her  hands  with  a  bitter  cry. 

"  Hush  ! "  said  Jim,  putting  his  hand  on 
her  head.  "  It's  no  good  taking  on  so ;  be- 
sides, I's  got  a  plan.     We'll  run  off." 

Rose  shuddered ;  it  was  the  last  alterna- 
tive, and  to  her  timid  spirit  held  very  httle 
hope. 

"  De    driber    wont    be    'long   'fore   to-mor- 


JIM   AND   ROSE. 


327 


row  morning,"  said  Jim ;  "  we'll  take  de 
road  to-night.  Maybe,  if  de  gemmen  knew 
mas'er  was  in  de  neighborhood,  dey  would 
pay  him  a  visit;  den  he  would  hab  enough 
to   do  widout  looking  after  us." 

'^  Oh,  I  darsn't  take  de  risk,"  said  Rose, 
sobbing;  "we  shall  be  caught."^ 

Jim  drew  himself  up  with  a  contemptuous 
smile,  "  Rader  go  oif  wid  de  driber  ?  Tell 
you  what.  Rose,  liberty  is  worth  de  risk  ob 
someting." 

"  But  we   shall  be  caught." 

"That's  jest  like  you.  Rose.  Susan  got 
off;  why  shouldn't  we?" 

Rose  wiped  her  eyes.  "I  dunno,"  she 
said.  "  Susan  was  white ;  nobody  would 
^spect  her." 

"  Rose,  Rose  I "  called  a  voice  from  the 
kitchen-door. 

"Dat's  Lizzie,"  said  the  girl,  starting, 
with  a  quick  glance  across.  "I  must  run, 
Jim;  I'm  wanted.  Oh,  what  shall  we  do? 
Missus  will  see  I'm  in  trouble." 

"Keep  close,  Rose;  don't  tell  Lizzie j 
mind  what.  I  tells  you." 


328  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

Rose  was  gone,  and  Jim  turned  leisurely 
back  to  the  stable  to  his  morning  work. 
The  field  hands  were  going  to  their  labors  ; 
the  sun  had  been  up  an  hour.  Joe  did  not 
make  his  appearance  out  of  doors  ;  he  had 
been  over  to  groom  and  fodder  his  horses 
with  the  first  gJimmer  of  daylight,  and 
was  now  keeping  close  in  obedience  to  his 
master's  instructions. 

Jim  indulged  himself  in  a  low  whistle  as 
he  set  about  his  work ;  he  had  few  doubts 
of  the  success  of  his    enterprise. 

The  day  stole  away  heavil}^  indoors.  It 
held  one  or  two  golden  hours  for  Millicent; 
but  for  the  most  part  a  feverish  anxiety 
pressed  upon  her  spirits.  Mrs.  Leeson 
seemed  to  be  lulled  by  the  influence  of  her 
son's  presence  into  a  strange  lethargy  of 
security. 

Twilight  came  on.  Mrs,  Leeson,  j^ielding 
to  fatigue,  despite  her  first  resolution  to 
sit  up  till  the  hour  of  her  son's  departure, 
retired  to  her  chamber,  where  Dinah  had 
preceded  her.     Her  maid   seemed  in  a  state 


JTM    AND    ROSE.  329 

of  imusual  depressioD,  and  gave  but  brief 
replies  to  her  mistress'  monosyllabic  inqui- 
ries touching  household  matters.  Presently 
she  relieved  her  mind. 

"  Rose  is  taking  on  bad  to-day,  missus. 
Jim  says  we  servants  are  going  to  be  sold.'^ 

"  One  of  Jim's  stories,"  said  her  mistress, 
yawning.  "  Here,  these  pillows  are  all  in 
a  heap.  Can't  you  fix  them  properly,  Dinah? 
Wake  me,  if  I  should  drop  asleep,  when 
Frederick  comes  in." 

Blind,  Wind!  How  could  her  ear  be  so 
dull  to   the  warning? 


CHAPTER    XXXVIII. 

THE   ALAR^r. 

THE  hours  were  deepening  toward  mid- 
night ;  the  clock  wiis  upon  the  stroke 
of  eleven ;  a  full  moon  was  shining  out  of 
doors.  Joe  had  brought  round  the  horses 
to  the  winding  carriage-path,  where  they 
stood  huddled  in  the  friendly  shade  of  the 
growth  of  sycamores.  Frederick  stood  iu 
the  hall  holding  his  cousin's  hand ;  he  liad 
just  come  down  from  liis  mother's  chamber. 
Adele  had  said  her  good-by,  and  was 
crouched  down  at  the  foot  of  the  staircase, 
struggling  bravely  to  keep  back  a  few  truant 
tears. 

Millicent  could  not  trust  her  voice  to 
frame  a  word.  Frederick  tried  to  shake  off 
the    spell    of   foreboding   which    hung    over 

330 


THE   ALARM.  331 

him.  He  had  reasons  enough  for  sadness, — 
his  mother's  feeble  health,  the  unprotected 
circumstances  in  which  he  was  leaving  these 
helpless  women,  with  the  perils  into  which 
he  was  himself  hastening. 

"  Adieu,"  he  said,  dropping  Millicent's 
hand.  "  I  shall  write  you  by  the  first  post. 
God  keep  and  preserve  you  all  till  we 
meet  again." 

Was  she  wrong  in  believing,  under  her 
downcast  lashes,  that  his  parting  glance 
sought  hers,  or  that  his  fingers  had  trem- 
bled an  instant  before  as  they  loosed  their 
clasp?  Trifles  to  build  upon  j  but  trifles 
are  everything  in  love. 

The  door  closed  noiselessly  after  him ; 
he  had  passed  out  into  the  moonlight.  Adele 
ran  into  the  sitting-room  to  catch  a  parting 
glimpse  from  the  veranda.  Millicent  mechan- 
ically followed  her,  saw  the  horsemen  mount, 
caught  at  the  distance  a  parting  wave  of 
the  hand  from  the  taller  of  the  two,  whose 
quick  eye  had  distinguished  the  flutter  of 
their    white     garments     among     the    vines 


332  MILLICEXT    HALFOnn. 

around  the  porch,  and  saw  them  canter  out 
into    the  road. 

All  was  still,  —  a  deep,  oppressive  still- 
ness. A  bird  disturbed  in  the  bushes  close 
by  sent  up  suddenly  a  low  chirp.  The  two 
women  turned  indoors.  Milliccnt  went  up 
straight  to  her  chamber.  Adele  lingered  at 
the  door  of  her  mother's  room,  to  see  if  she 
were  still  waking. 

Two  minutes  later  Jim  stole  out  from 
the  stable  with  a  small  bundle  in  his  hand, 
containing  his  little  suit  of  worldly  goods, 
and  made  up  to  the  veranda.  The  lights 
were  gone  from  the  sitting-room ;  he  had 
made  sure  of  this  from  a  chink  in  the  stable. 
Rose  had  promised  to  meet  him  as  soon  as 
the  family  should  have  retired,  and  the 
house  settled  to  stillness.  He  crept  up  to 
the  first  window,  and  laid  his  ear  to  the 
sill.  Eose  was  already  there  to  meet  him,  a 
little  bundle  in  her  hand,  her  face  swollen 
with  weeping,  her  spirits  at  this  last  moment 
very  uneven  and  undecided.  Jim  drew  her 
out,  purposely  left  the   sash  open  after  him. 


THE   ALARM.  333 

and  stepped  into  the  shadow  of  the  vines, 
hesitating  to  cross  the  broad  space  which 
spread  before  them  in  the  full  tide  of  moon- 
light. Adele's  chamber  was  situated  at  that 
corner  of  the  house.  In  the  excitement  at- 
tending upon  her  brother's  visit,  the  young'' 
girl  miglit  be  wakeful  and  might  not  yet 
have   retired. 

"  Miss  Adele  be  up  in  missus'  room," 
whispered  Rose,  guessing  at  the  cause  of 
her  lover's  hesitation.  ^^  She  be  talking  wid 
missus  as  I   crept  by." 

Jim  brought  out  an  impatient  groan.  It 
was  not  worth  while  to  run  the  risk  of 
detection  in  the  outset;  they  had  no  choice 
but  to  wait. 

A  full  half-hour  crept  on ;  they  dared  not 
trust  their  voices  above  a  whisper  in  the 
close  neighborhood  of  the  house.  Rose,  in- 
deed, was  ill-inclined  for  conversation,  and 
Jim's  anxieties  on  his  part  left  little  room 
for  speech.  Just  as  he  had  made  up  his 
mind  that  his  young  mistress  must  have  re- 
tired,   leaving    the    way   clear,    and    was   in 


o34  MILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

tlie  act  of  arousing  his  companion,  the  muf- 
fled tread  of  footfalls  came  distinctly  to 
liis  ear.  He  turned  his  eyes  witli  a  start  in 
tlie  direction  of  the  carriage-path,  and  saw 
lialf  a  dozen  figures  stealthily  gliding  up 
its  outskirts  in  the  direction  of  the  house. 
Tliese  were  his  master's  midnight  visitors. 
He  put  his  hand  over  Rose's  mouth,  muf- 
fling her  cry  of  alarm,  and  directed  her  in 
a  whisper  to  find  her  way  off  the  veranda. 
All  the  inmates  of  the  household  must  bo 
wrapped  in  slumber  at  tliis  weird  hour. 
She  might  cross  under  ej^e-shot  of  her  mas- 
ter's w^indow  without  much  danger  of  dis- 
covery, and  get  to  the  rear  of  the  apple 
orchard,  where  he  would  presently  join 
her. 

Rose  obeyed  him,  trembling  with  a  new 
terror,  and  by  an  instinctive  movement, 
rather  than  any  act  of  conscious  volition, 
reached  the  designated  spot. 

Jim  was  about  to  follow,  when  a  tall  shadow 
fell  over  the  boards  before  him,  and  his 
affrighted  upward  glance  recognized  Mr. 
Raw  don. 


THE   ALARM.  335 

"So  you  are  here,  my  good  fellow,"  said 
the  gentleman,  speaking  in  a  whisper  which 
sounded  frightfully  distinct  in  the  stillness. 
''  Is  the  house  open  ?  Have  we  got  a  friend 
inside?" 

Jim  pointed  to  the  window,  and  made  a 
quick  gesture  to  move  away. 

^'  Not  so  fast,"  said  the  visitor,  laying  his 
hand  heavily  on  his  shoulder;  "you  must 
pilot  us  in,  and  show  us  up  to  your  mas- 
ter's   chamber." 

"  Oh,  no,  mas'er ! "  said  Jim,  falling  on 
his  knees  ;  "  de  way's  straight  'nuff,  — jest  up 
de  staircase.  I  dunno  mas'er's  room ;  b'heve 
it's  to  de  left  or  right." 

"  We  will  soon  find  out,"  said  Rawdon, 
roughly,  giving  him  a  shake.  "  Come,  you 
rascal,  if  there's  any  play  about  this,  you'll 
soon  get  daylight  through  your  head.  Here, 
Delford,  Jones,  —  this  way;  the  nigger  will 
pilot  us.  Here,  sir,  get  through  the  win- 
dow." 

Jim  saw  that  there  was  no  escape.  With 
a  cold  perspiration  starting  from  every  pore, 


3oG  MTLLICEXT   HALFOIID. 

and  standing  out  in  great  drops  on  liis 
forehead,  lie  crept  in.  Close  behind  him 
came  three  or  four  men,  their  pistols  in 
their  hnnds,  a  look  of  scowling  malignity 
on  each  of  the  rough  faces. 

Jim  knew  that  his  life  was  in  the  balance 
with  his  fidelity,  and  setting  his  teeth  close, 
he  made  a  cautious  movement  up  the  stair- 
case. One  by  one  they  followed,  and  each 
gained  noiselessly  the  landing. 

Here  Jim  stopped  in  some  trepidation. 
The  door  to  the  left  was  certainly  his  mas- 
ter's. It  w^as  not  locked,  or  close  shut,  but 
stood  slightly  ajar.  At  tiiis  pcant  Jim's  cour- 
age failed  him.  With  a  low  ejaculation  of 
'-  Dis  be  Mas'er  Frederick's  room,*'  he  made 
a  bound  back  to  the  head  of  the  staircase, 
^vithout  waiting  to  see  what  was  to  follow. 
His  sudden  spring  overtuined  the  hindmost 
of  the  visitors,  whose  pistol  w^ent  off  in 
the  confusion,  while  the  three  others  rushed 
into  the  chamber  in  the  hope  of  still  se- 
curing their  prey  in  the  first  moment  of 
surprise. 


THE   ALARM.  337 

The  room  was  empty  !  The  second  glance 
told  the  story  that  the  bed  had  not  been 
slept  in. 

A  smothered  oath  broke  from  the  lips  of 
the  foremost,  repeated  in  a  variety  of  voices 
by  the  others. 

"  The  nigger  has  made  a  mistake  ! "  burst 
out  Mr.  Rawdon ;  ''  this  is  the  wrong  cliam- 
ber.  Quick,  men,  scatter  !  We'll  have  him 
yet;  but  he'll  be  roused  up  with  this  hub- 
bub." 
22 


CHAPTER    XXXIX. 

THE   HORRORS   OF   CIVIL  WAR. 

MRS.  LEESOX,  aroused  from  her  first 
sleep  by  the  sharp  report  of  a  pistol, 
started  up  on  her  elbow  with  a  quick  ex- 
clamation to  her  maid,  Dinali,  already  awake, 
roused  up  from  her  recumbent  position  on 
the  strip  of  carpet  at  her  mistress'  bedside. 
Both  listened,  and  heard  distinctly  the  foot- 
stej^s  and  smothered  voices   in  the   passage. 

A  rude  hand  pushed  open  the  door  of  tlie 
dressing-room,  and  a  face  intruded  u[»on 
the  two  terrified  women. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  women's  chambers,'' 
said  the  intruder,  speaking  to  his  comrade 
behind  him.  "  We  can  get  some  inibrm;i- 
tion  out  of  this  negress.  Here,  you  black 
wench,   wliich   is   Mr.   Leeson's  room  ?  '' 

338 


THE    HORRORS    OF   CIVIL    WAR.  339 

"  My  son  is  not  here/'  said  Mrs.  Leeson, 
commanding  her  terror  to  speak.  "  What 
do  you  want  ?  If  plunder,  here  is  my  watch, 
and  all  the  money  I  have  is  in  this  secre- 
tary.'^ 

"Money  is  not  our  object,  madam,''  said 
the  man,  who,  in  the  uncertain  light,  had 
failed  to  distinguish  the  figure  on  the  bed, 
and  who  seemed  to  be  the  head  of  the  en- 
terprise.    "We  want   your  son.'' 

"He  is  not  here,"  returned  Mrs.  Leeson, 
her  voice  hardly  articulate  from  fright,  and 
driven  by  the  pressure  of  terror  into  a  false- 
hood ;   "  he  has  not  been  here." 

"Then  that  lying  nigger  shall  swing  for 
it,"  muttered  Mr.  Rawdon,  taking  himself 
out;  "but  we'll  have  a  search  and  make 
good  your  word  for  it  first,  madam." 

A  fruitless  search  it  proved.  His  men 
shortly  issued  from  the  upper  regions  bear- 
ing three  prisoners  with  them,  —  Milhcent, 
Adele,  and  Lizzie.  The  first  two  ladies  — 
even  Adele,  child  as  she  was  —  preserved 
a  dignified  silence   to   the   few    short   words 


340  MILLICEXT    HALFOKD. 

of  questioning  put  to  them ;  but  tlie  terri- 
fied negro  servant  stood  ready  to  confess 
to  anything  and  everything. 

"  Mas'er  be  jest  gone,"  she  said ;  "  he 
habn't  been  gone   clean  'bove  an   hour." 

Millieent  thiew  at  her  a  glance  of  troubled 
reproach,  which  Lizzie,  with  her  face  bent 
down  upon  her  hands,  and  her  whole  body 
shaking  with   alarm,   failed  to   meet. 

''  What  road  did  he  take  ? "  asked  Raw- 
don,  breathlessly;  but  the  woman  was  una- 
ble to  answer. 

"  We'll  soon  find  a  way  to  open  your 
mouths,"  said  Hawdon,  in  a  savage  tone, 
"  or  you  shall  see  this  old  roof-tree  burning 
over  your  heads  !  Come,  here's  your  choice, 
—  put  us  on  Mr.  Leeson's  track,  or  clear 
out  of  the  house  what  few  movables  you 
can.  We'll  give  you  twenty  minutes."  lie 
took   out  his  watch. 

Millieent  turned  pale;  Adole  wrung  her 
hands  with  a  terrified  gesture. 

"  I  don't  believe  he's  got  off  at  all,"  con- 
tinued one  of  ti;e  men  ;  "■  he's  liiding  some- 
where  about  in  this  house." 


THE    HORRORS    OF   CIVIL   WAR.  341 

^'  The  flames  will  bring  him  out  then," 
said   their   leader,   shortly. 

^'  Mr.  Leeson  is  not  here,"  said  Millicent, 
struggling  to  speak.  "  He  is  out  of  your 
reach ;  you  cannot  do  him  any  harm.  Cer- 
tainly, gentlemen,  you  will  not  w^ar  upon 
helpless  women  ! " 

'*  You  waste  time,  ma'am,"  said  one  of 
the  men.  "  You'd  better  be  about  clearing 
the  house." 

"Yes,"  said  their  leader,  "we  shall  put 
the  torch  at  the  end  of  the  twenty  minutes." 

They  scattered  as  by  one  impulse  in  pur- 
suit of  plunder,  leaving  the  two  girls  at  the 
door  of  Mrs.  Leeson's  chamber.  Lizzie  had 
crouched  down  upon  the  floor,  and  was  sob- 
bing helplessly  in  her  terror. 

"  What  will  become  of  mamma  ?  "  whis- 
pered Adeie.  "  Poor  mamma !  she  will  get 
her   death  in  this  damp  night." 

At  this  instant,  to  their  dismay,  Mrs.  Lee- 
son appeared  in  the  door,  having  been  hur- 
riedly dressed  by  Dinah.  The  excitement 
of    the   hour   had    given   her   strength,   and 


342  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

sbe  had  come  out  to  join  lier  feeble  petition 
to  tliat  of  tlie  two  trembling  girls  before 
her  that  these  midnight  visitors  would  re- 
spect  the  sanctity   of  her  home. 

They  found  Mr.  Eawdon  in  an  adjoining 
chamber  in  the  act  of  curiously  inspecting 
the  closets,  no  doubt  in  tlic  forlorn  hope 
of  still  discovering  the  object  of  his  search. 
The  women  surrounded  him  with  passion- 
ate entreaties  to  revoke  his  hasty   order. 

'^  It's  no  use/'  he  answered,  savagely. 
''You'd  better  stop  your  crying,  and  clear 
the   house.     You  are   only    wasting  time." 

It  was  plain  that  it  was  so.  Mrs.  Leeson 
sunk  down  fainting  in  a  chair.  Adcle  ran 
to  support  her  mother,  wliile  Millicent  hur- 
ried  out  for  a    glass   of  water. 

"We  must  get  out  tlie  carriage/'  thought 
the  poor  girl,  "  if  I  can  only  find  Jim.  What 
is  to  be  saved  ?  Where  sliall  we  get  shel- 
ter ?  '^ 

Slie  aroused  Lizzie,  administered  a  hearty 
shaking  to  awaken  her  from  her  fright,  and 
placing    the     glass    of  water    in     her   hand, 


THE   HORRORS   OF   CIVIL   WAR.  343 

bade  her  go  to  her  mistress.  She  stopped 
to  see  that,  in  her  bewilderment,  the  girl 
had  not  missed  her  way,  and  then  proceed- 
ed down  the  staircase.  She  had  not  far  to 
go  in  her  search,  but  quickly  discovered 
Jim  in  the  custody  of  the  two  men  who 
had  been  left  to  keep  guard  outside.  They 
were  amusing  themselves  with  their  pris- 
oner, with  the  utterance  of  various  threats 
to  be  carried  out  in  the  case  of  his  mas- 
ter's non-discovery,  which  came  to  an  abrupt 
pause  at  her  appearance.  Millicent  hesitat- 
ed,  undecided   what   to   do. 

"  You  will  let  us  take  out  the  carriage  ?  '^ 
she  said,  addressing  one  of  the  men.  "  Mrs. 
Leeson  is  hardly  able  to  leave  her  cham- 
ber; it  will  be  sure  death  to  her  to  be 
turned  out  on  foot  in  this  damp  night." 

They  looked  at  each  other  in  uncertainty. 
Mrs.  Leeson  was  a  sick,  helpless  old  woman 
who  had  done  nothing  to  offend  them.  One 
of  her  sons  was  in  the  Confederate  army  ; 
she  was  not  answerable  for  the  other's 
pohtics.     Jim  was   set  at  liberty,  and   pro- 


344  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

ceeded  with  alacrity  to  turn  out  the  two 
carriage  horses. 

Millicent  went  back  to  give  orders  to 
Dinah,  and  to  gather  up  her  own  scanty 
wearing  apparel  as  rapidly  as  she  might. 
There  was  no  time  to  get  out  the  plate,  or 
many  other  valuable  articles  which  must 
be  left  to  the  flames,  should  they  escape 
the  cupidity  of  the  plunderers.  She  called 
out  Adele,  leaving  Mrs.  Leeson  to  the  care 
of  Lizzie,  whose  terror  would  have  prevent- 
ed her  from  proving  of  an}^  efficient  help, 
and   ran   up  to  her  cliamber. 

Ten,  fifteen  minutes  flew  by  rapidly. 
Rawdon's  rough  voice  called  from  the  foot 
of  the  staircase,  "  Come,  ladies,  the  twenty 
minutes  are  up.  We  haven't  any  more  time 
to  waste." 

The  trunks  were  pushed  down  with  Dinah's 
strong  assistance.  Mrs.  Leeson  followed, 
leaning  heavily  on  her  daughter's  arm, 
whose  agitation  seemed  to  render  her  al- 
most incapable  of  her  own  support.  Lizzie, 
with  a  small  bundle  hastily  crowded  togeth- 
er, brought  up  the  rear. 


THE   HORRORS    OF    CIVIL   WAR.  345 

It  was  a  sorrowful  picture;  but  no  pity- 
ing moisture  shone  in  the  scowHug  eyes 
which  watched  it.  They  went  out  at  the 
hall-door  and  stood  on  the  veranda,  from 
which  Millicent  and  Adele  had  watched 
Frederick's  departure,  and  met  his  last 
parting   salutation,  little  more  than  an  hour 

before. 

"Thank  God!  he  is  safe,"  whispered  Mil- 
licent, pressing  her  aunt's  arm.  "Let  us 
take   courage." 

Mrs.  Leeson  replied  only  by  a  groan. 
Her  eyes  turned  beseechingly  to  Mr.  Raw- 
don,  who  had  followed  the  mournful  com- 
pany out,  and  w^aited  to  see  them  off.  "  Oh, 
sir,  have  pity  !  "  she  exclaimed.  "  You  have 
a  mother.  Think  what  it  is  to  have  an  old 
woman  turned  out  of  doors  !  " 

"It  is  a  hard  case,  ma'am,"  said  the  gen- 
tleman addressed.  "  Your  son  should  have 
had  thought  for  you." 

The  carriage  and  horses  appeared  at  the 
opening  of  the  carriage-path,  but  without 
a  driver.      Jim    had  seized  a  favorable  mo- 


346  MILLICENT    TIALFORD. 

ment  to  skedaddle,  and  taken  himself  securely 
out  of  sight  and  hearing.  Here  was  a  dilem- 
ma. No  one  knew  in  what  direction  to  go, 
if  the  trunks  could  be  got  on,  and  the 
horses  started.  Mrs.  Leeson  was  quite  past 
giving  directions.  Millicent  found  again  that 
the  weight  of  authority  must  rest  upon  her 
hands.  She  recalled  a  log-house  about  a 
mile  distant,  whose  owner  had  received 
several  favors  at  her  aunt's  hands.  She 
might  be  persuaded  to  shelter  them  for  the 
present  in  their  homeless  condition.  For 
Mrs.  Leeson  to  accomplish  a  journey  of  much 
distance  in  her  present  state,  not  to  consid- 
er the  damp  air  of  midnight,  which  was 
already  sending  a  shiver  through  her  slen- 
der frame,  was  impossible. 

The  trunks  were  got  on  with  the  united 
exertions  of  the  little  group,  Mrs.  Leeson 
was  helped  in,  and  Millicent  took  the  reins. 
A  backward  glance  showed  the  negro  quar- 
ters open  and  deserted.  The  negroes  had 
early  taken  the  alarm,  and  scattered  into 
the  fields. 


THE   HORRORS   OP   CIVIL   WAR.  347 

The  horses  started  at  an  easy  pace.  Mrs. 
Leeson  dropped  her  head  with  a  low,  heart- 
wrung  sob.  Adele  leaned  out  of  the  car- 
riage window  for  one  last  farewell  look  at 
the  old  home  which  was  soon  to  lie  in  a 
heap  of  crumbhng  cinders.  "Oh,  if  Fred, 
were  here,"  she  exclaimed,  passionately, 
"  with  his  company  of  men  !  Oh,  mother,  if 
he  could  only  have  known  of  this  ! " 

"  Thank  God,"  repeated  Millicent,  gently, 
turning  her  face,  "that  he  is  safe.  We  can 
bear  everything  with  that!" 


CHAPTER     XL. 

THE    NIGHT    DRIVE. 

I^HEY  had  proceeded  about  half  a  mile 
.  when  a  flaming  light  rose  up  in  the 
sky  behind  them,  starting  the  horses  from 
their  even  pace,  and  calling  out  all  Milli- 
cent's  care  and  skill  in  their  management. 
Broader  and  broader  it  grew  till  the  whole 
heavens  were  overspread,  and  the  little  party 
distinctly  heard  the  roaring  of  the  flames 
and  the  sharp  crack  of  the  parting  timbers, 
in  the  still  night  air.  Dinah  ground  her 
teeth  with  a  smothered  ejaculation,  "  The 
debils  are  having  their  time."  Adele's  eyes 
kindled,  their  light  the  next  instant  drenched 
in  a  flood  of  tears.  Mrs.  Leeson  crouched 
back  closer  in  her  corner  of  the  carriage. 
Lizzie's    sobs    broke   out    anew.        The    old 

348 


THE   NIGHT    DDIVE.  3-19 

homestead  was  fast  falling  into  a  sheet  of 
red  flame.  The  vines  around  the  veranda, 
the  flowers  in  the  little  garden,  —  but  yes- 
terday morning  so  fresh,  —  were  shrivelling 
in  the  hot  heat,  and  over  it  all  demons,  in 
human  shape,  were  gloating  in  the  triumph 
of  revenge. 

The   horses  were  fast  growing  unmanage- 
able.    Millicent,    whose  thoughts  had  turned 
from  the  burning  buildings  to  centre  around 
the    safety  of  her  companions,  began    to    be 
sensible  of  an  emotion  of  terror.     A  tall  hill 
rose  at  a  short  distance  before  her.     If  she 
could   slacken  their  pace    up  the  ascent,   all 
would  be  well ;  if  not,  she  trembled   at   the 
thought  of  the  headlong  plunge  which  might 
threaten    on   the   other   side.       Exerting   all 
her  strength,  she  drew  in  the   reins  tightly, 
and   tried   to    curb  the  alarmed  steeds  with 
her    voice.       The    steady    horses    gradually 
relaxed    into   a   slackened   run,   and   to   her 
great     relief,     allowed      themselves     to     be 
brought   to   an    abrupt   stop   at   the    foot   of 
the   ascent.     It   was  an  open  country,  with 


350  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

a  wide  margin  of  stubble  land  on  each  side 
of  the  road,  and  a  broad  line  of  what  ap- 
peared to  be  thick  woods  spreading  away 
at  a  little   distance  to  the   right. 

'^  Where  shall  we  go,  Millicent?"  asked 
Adele,  clinging  to  her  cousin's  dress  to 
draw  her  attention.  ''  Mamma  cannot  go 
much  farther.     See  how  ill  she  looks!" 

Millicent  did  not  need  to  turn  her  faco 
to  catch  her  aunt's  woe-begone  aspect.  The 
humble  log-hut  wliijh  hiui  first  come  to 
her  thoughts  was  but  a  few  yards  distant; 
it  would  appear  in  sight  on  mounting  the 
hill.  She  whispered  a  few  words  to  Adele, 
and  again  started  the  horses,  this  time  at 
a  slow  pace. 

The  slope  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  brought 
her  to  her  destination ;  it  was  a  small  clear- 
ing on  the  outskirts  of  the  wood,  occupied 
by  a  rude  log-house,  a  vegetable  garden  in 
front,  rudely  fenced  with  rough  pine  boards. 

Millicent  got  out,  tethered  her  horses  with 
some  difficulty  to  a  tree,  and  proceeded  to 
arouse   the   inmates   of    the   dwelling    by  a 


THE   NIGHT   DRIVE.  351 

vigorous  succession  of  knocks  bestowed  with 
the  end  of  her  whip. 

Presently  a  night-capped  head  was  thrust 
out  the  window,  the  coarse  cotton  ruffle 
surrounding  a  labor-seamed  but  honest  wo- 
man's face. 

''And  what  be  you  after  wanting  at  this 
time  o'  night?"  was  her  Hibernian  saluta- 
tion. 

"  You  know  us,  Mrs.  Brown/-  said  Mil- 
licent,  approaching  the  window.  "  Mrs.  Lee- 
son,  of  Wheatley  Place,  is  in  this  carriage. 
We  have  been  turned  out  of  our  house, 
and  have  come  to  beg  of  you  a  night's  shel- 
ter." 

"  Bless  my  soul ! "  said  the  woman,  look- 
ing up  at  the  sky,  which  presented  a  crim- 
son glare  overhead.  "  There's  a  great  fire 
somewhere,  and  it  isn't  far  off  either.  The 
regulators  are  to  work  again.  Arrah,  sorry 
times   these  for  some  folks  !  " 

Two  curly  heads  protruded  out  of  the 
window  at  the  first  sentence  at  their  moth- 
er's side,  curiously  taking  in  the  flaming  as- 


O0'2  MILLICEXT   IIALFORD. 

pect  of  the  sky,  and  wandering  from  that  to 
the  strange  spectacle  of  the  equipage  halt- 
ing a  few  paces  from  their  door. 

"Will  you  give  us  shelter?"  repeated 
Millicent,  anxiously.  "  Mrs.  Leeson  is  very 
feeble  ;  I  fear  she  cannot  get  much  farther." 

''  Yes,  m}'  dear.  What  am  I  thinking 
of?  It's  the  fire  that's  quite  dazed  me  ;  " 
and  Mrs.  Brown  hurried  to  the  door,  drew 
out  the  creaking  bolt,  and  opened  it  wide 
for  the  admission  of  her  visitors.  ''  It's  your 
own  house  thin  that's  burning  !  *'  she  ejacu- 
lated. "  Sorry  comforts  I  can  offer  to  such 
a  lady ;  but  the  best  I  have  is  for  her, 
and  she's  welcome." 

Millicent  did  not  stop  to  hear  her  cour- 
tesies ;  she  was  at  the  side  of  the  carriage 
whispering  to  Advjle  to  assist  her  mother 
to  alight.  The  young  lady  threw  a  discon- 
tented glance  at  the  poor  place,  and  hesi- 
tated to  descend.  "  We  can  do  no  more," 
w^hispered  Millicent ;  "  every  other  door 
would  be  shut  to  us ;  this  poor  woman 
alone    runs   no  danger." 


THE   NIGHT  DRIVE. 


353 


Adele  submitted  with  a  sigh,  and  getting 
out,  prepared  to  assist  her  mother  to  de- 
scend. Mrs.  Leeson's  nervous  strength  was 
fast  succumbing  under  exhaustion;  she 
reached  the  house  with  some  exertion,  and 
sunk  into  the  chair  which  her  hostess  hur- 
ried to  place  for  her.  The  inner  part  of 
the  log-house  proved  to  consist  of  but  one 
room,  partially  divided  by  a  curtain.  Mrs. 
Brown  cheerfully  gave  up  her  bed  to  Mrs. 
Leeson,  and  the  little  party  set  about  mak- 
ing themselves  as  comfortable  as  their  pe- 
culiar circumstances  would  admit. 

"We  have  relatives  at  Belmont,"  said 
Adele  to  her  cousin,  in  a  whisper,  as  they 
sat  together  an  hour  after  their  arrival, — 
Mrs.  Brown  had  considerately  withdrawn  to 
the  opposite  part  of  the  house,  leaving  her 
guests  to  themselves,  —  "if  mamma  could 
only  get  there." 

"  She  will  die  here,"  said  Millicent,  glanc- 
ing with  a  shudder  around   the   bare  walls. 
"The  effort  must   certainly   be   made,   even 
if  we  are  obliged  to  return  with  her." 
23 


I 


CHAPTER    XL  I. 

THE    BATTLE    OF    BELMONT. 

T  was  tbe  night  following  the  9th  of 
November.  The  battle  of  Belmont  was 
over ;  the  victorious  Union  forces  had  taken 
up  a  line  of  retreat  to  their  gunboats,  and 
the  friendly  twilight  was  beginning  to  veil 
the  mournful  scenes  of  death  and  suffering 
which  followed  close  upon  tlie  roar  and 
smoke  of  conflict.  In  an  open  field  on  the 
outskirts  of  the  village  where  the  struggle 
had  raged  tlie  fiercest,  lay  a  heap  of  man- 
gled forms  in  which  life  seemed  to  be 
utterly  extinct,  with  one  or  two  still 
breathing  figures  stretched  on  the  stubble 
earth  beside  them.  One  of  tliese  wore  the 
uniform  of  a  Confederate  officer  of  some 
rank,    which    was    still    discernible    in    the 

354 


THE  BATTLE  OF  BELMONT.       355 

dusk;  the  other,  by  his  blue  coat,  was  a 
Union  private,  who  most  likely  had  been 
left  for  dead  in  the  hurried  departure  of 
his  comrades.  Both  were  young,  of  such 
materials  as  enter  most  into  the  mass  of 
armies,   in   the   flower   and  vigor   of  life. 

"  Will  no  one  come  ? "  groaned  the  offi- 
cer, turning  up  a  despairing  look  at  the 
sky.  "  It  is  horrible  to  think  of  lying  hero 
all  night,  within  a  few  yards  of  friends, 
and  suffering,  too,  with  this  intolerable 
thirst ! " 

Even  as  he  spoke  a  light  footfall  broke 
the  stillness  near  them,  and  two  female 
figures,  their  sex  distinguishable  by  a  mass 
of  light  drapery,  came  with  hesitating  foot- 
falls over  the  ground  toward  them.  The 
foremost,  who  was  a  few  rods  in  advance 
of  her  companion,  stopped  at  the  heap  of 
,  corpses  on  the  knoll,  and,  conquering  her 
trembling  repugnance,  began  to  bend  over 
them.  A  low,  bitter  cry  instantly  burst 
from  her  lips.  "  Oh,  Fanny,  he  is  here ! 
I  knew   it  would    be   so.     O   God ! "     She 


356  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

sunk  down  upon  tlie  grass,  wringing  lier 
hands,  and  rocking  herself"  to  and  fro  with 
a  low  succession  of  sobs.  Her  companion 
went  up  to  her  and  put  her  arm  around 
her   neck,   as   if  to    draw    her   away. 

"  Come,"  she  said,  her  voice  showing  that 
she  was  shivering  from  head  to  foot,  '^  we 
"^vill  go  and  get  assistance  to  have  him 
carried  to  the  house.  Come,  Jane,  this  is 
a  horrible  spot,  and  it's  not  safe  to  linger 
here  ;    it's  growing  dark." 

The  sobbing  woman  started  up,  and  put 
her   hand   upon    her    companion's   arm. 

"  Ladies,"  said  the  wounded  officer,  as 
they  turned  to  move  away,  "  will  you  give 
me  some  water?  I  and  this  poor  fellow 
here    are    dying    of  thirst." 

The  women  started  at  a  voice  near  them. 
Their  first  movement  seemed  to  be  to  flee  ; 
but  the  woman  who  had  knelt  over  the 
dead  body  gently  restrained  her  companion. 

"  We  will  send  help  to  you,"  she  said, 
"  and  have  you  taken  into  a  house.  I 
thought  all  the  wounded  had  been  carried 
away." 


TTTE   BATTLE    OF    BELMONT.  357 

She  did  not  ask,  true  to  Ler  woman's 
sympathies,  to  which  side  the  wounded 
man  belonged,  but  quickened  her  steps  to 
a  rapid  walk  in  the  direction  of  the  houses. 

Major  James  Leeson  —  for  the  wounded 
officer  was  no  other  than  this  gentleman 
—  laid  his  head  back  again  wearily  on  the 
hard  ground,  and  surrendered  himself  to 
await  with  what  patience  he  could  the 
amelioration  of  his  condition.  His  comrade 
beside  him  had  relapsed  into  a  second 
faint,  and  lay  quite  unconscious  of  any- 
thing around  him,  with  the  blood  congealed 
at  his  side  from  a  hideous  wound  in  his 
breast.  The  stars  were  coming  out  thickly 
in  the  blue  sky  overhead ;  a  reviving  night 
breeze  blew  over  the  fields ;  the  wounded 
man  struggled  with,  his  feverish  impatience. 

By  and  by,  after  what  seemed  an  age 
of  space,  his  ear  caught  distinctly  the  tread 
of  footsteps  coming  out  of  the  distance, 
and  shortly  tw^o  men,  bearing  a  rough  litter, 
hastily  formed  of  two  wooden  slabs,  and 
preceded  by  a  female  figure,  carrying  a 
lantern,   halted   beside   him. 


358  MILLICEXT    IIALFORD. 

^'This  is  the  spot,"  said  a  low  voice, 
wliicli  sounded  strangely  familiar,  .though 
liis  senses  were  beginning  to  grow  weak 
with  the  pain  and  loss  of  blood  following 
his    wound. 

"One.  of  them  is  quite  gone,"  said  one 
of  the  men,  bending  over  his  blue-coated 
comrade.     "  See  !    his   eyes   are   set." 

James  tried  to  lift  his  head,  to  assist  his 
bearers  to  raise  him  to  the  litter ;  but  the 
exertion  proved  too  much.  A  sudden  faint- 
ness  came  over  him,  and  his  eyes  closed 
just  as  the  lantern  slipped  from  the  relax- 
ing fingers  of  the  guide  with  a  low  ejac- 
ulation  of  his    name. 

When  Mr.  Leeson  returned  to  conscious- 
ness, he  found  himself  lying  on  a  bed  in  a 
large,  airy  chamber.  It  was  broad  daylight; 
the  sun  was  shining  cheerily  through  an 
aperture  in  the  displaced  curtain,  and  the 
wintry  brandies  of  a  naked  tree  drew  his 
attention  outside.  As  he  lay,  thoughtful  and 
conscious,  he  became  aware  that  a  long 
interval  must  have  elapsed   since  the    night 


THE  BATTLE  OP  BELMONT.       359 

of  his  wound,  and  that  he  was  now  in- 
debted to  the  charity  of  some  kind  friend, 
who  had  nursed  him  through  his  dehrium, 
instead  of  the  chary  attentions  doled  out 
at  a  hospitaL  Two  or  three  figures  who 
had  held  no  small  share  in  his  fever-col- 
ored fancies  flitted  distinctly  before  his 
memory.  He  was  quite  sure  that  a  famil- 
iar presence  had  more  than  once  penetrated 
to  his  bedside,  and  that  he  had  heard  his 
name  pronounced  by  the  same  lips  which 
had  faltered  it  in  the  twilight  when  he 
sunk  down  fainting  —  as  he  then  thought 
dying  —  on    the    cold    ground. 

^'  You  are  awake,  sir,"  observed  a  quiet 
voice  from  the  depths  of  the  easy<-hair  at 
his  bedside.  "  Will  you  take  your  medi- 
cine now  ? ''  Mr.  Leeson  looked  up  to  see 
a  wrinkled,  kindly-looking  face,  in  a  close 
widow's  cap,  with  black  bauds,  bending 
over   him. 

'^  Is  it  a  narcotic,  ma'am  ? "  he  asked, 
hesitating  to  swallow  the  contents  of  the 
glass    which    was    placed   to    his   lips. 


3G0  MILLICEXT    HALFORD. 

"  I  don't  know,  sir ;  the  ductor  said  it 
was    a    sootliin*^   draught." 

^'  I  should  like  to  ask  a  question  or  two 
first/'  said  the  patient.  ^'  Where  am  I  ? 
and  who  has  so  kindly  taken  care  of  me 
in    mv  sickness  ?  " 

"  You  are  still  in  the  village  of  Belmont, 
sir.  The  family  you  are  with  is  named 
Anson.  You  were  brought  here  insensible 
on    the    niglit   of  the    battle." 

"Ah,  I  remember.''  Mr.  Leeson  put  his 
hand  feebly  to  his  temples.  "  I  think  we 
were    masters    of  the   field    at   the   last?" 

''  It  was  a  drawn  battle,  sir,"  said  the 
old  lady,  discreetly  steering  between  the 
rival  claims  of  the  victory.  *'  The  Union 
forces  drew  off  in  good  order,  and  your 
side  was  left  in  possession  of  the  field.  But 
the  doctor  said  you  were  not  to  talk  when 
you  should  come  to  yourself  Be  pleased 
to    swallow  yuur   medicine." 

"  One  more  question,  my  good  lady 
How    long  have    I    been   lying   here  ? " 

"  Close    upon    three    weeks,  sir." 


THE    BATTLE    OF    BELJIOXT.  361 

Major  Leeson  repressed  a  groan.  What 
had  become  of  his  command?  Did  his 
comrades  believe  him  dead?  Most  likely 
they  did,  since  he  had  been  passed  over 
by  them  in  an  obscnre  spot  upon  the  field. 

"  You  had  better  try  to  sleep,  and  get 
ugly  thoughts  out  of  your  head,  sir,''  said 
his  nurse,  watching  his  face.  "  The  doctor 
said  worrying  would  retard  your  getting 
up." 

Certainly  some  friendly  care  was  near 
him.'  Mr.  Leeson  swallowed  the  nauseous 
draught,  laid  his  head  back  on  his  pillow, 
and   resigned   himself  to   his  situation. 

Presently  a  deep,  refreshing  slumber  stole 
over  him,  and  the  old  nurse,  rising  on  tip- 
toe,  glided   noiselessly  out   of  the   chamber. 


CHAPTER    XLII. 

RETROSPECTION. 

MAJOR  LEESOX'S  convalescence  was 
rapid.  On  the  fourtli  day  he  was  able 
to  quit  his  bed  for  a  lounge  placed  oppo- 
site a  window  which  commanded  a '  v/ide 
view  of  the  surrounding  country  ;  but  with 
his  improvement  in  strength  his  docility  as 
a  patient  lapsed,  and  he  began  to  press  his 
kind  nurse  with  inquiries  on  a  point  wliich 
deeply  excited  his  curiosity.  Was  it  the 
illusion  of  a  fever  dream  which  painted,  on 
two  or  three  occasions,  a  fjiir  face  batlied 
in  tears  at  his  pillow,  or  which  distinctly 
treasured  up  the  pressure  of  a  hand,  too 
small    and  *soft    to    belonir    to    his    witheicd 

o 

nurse,  in   more    than    one    heated    night    of 
delirium,   upon    his   temples  ? 

362 


RETROSPECTION.  363 

"  I  have  a  distinct  impression  of  hearing 
a  familiar  voice  on  the  night  in  which  I 
was  taken  up  from  the  field/'  he  said  to 
his  nurse.  "  Good  Mrs.  Anson,  will  you 
not  have  pity  upon  my  fever-clouded  brain, 
and   set   me   right  ? " 

"  The  lady  who  found  you  was  Miss  Ben- 
net,"  said  Mrs.  Anson,  answering  with  re- 
luctance. ^'  She  w^as  in  search  of  her 
father's  body ;  he  fell  in  the  beginning  of 
the  action.  I  believe  they  were  old  neigh- 
bors  of  yours  ?  " 

^^  Yes,"  said  Mr.  Leeson,  turning  away  his 
face.  '^  But  how  came  she  here?"  he 
asked,  after  a  pause.  "  The  family  are  still 
at   Rossenville  ?  " 

"Her  mother  is  dead,"  said  Mrs.  Anson, 
in  a  tone  which  betrayed  surprise  at  the 
very  meagre  extent  of  her  questioner's 
knowledge.  '^  She  got  her  death  from  the 
exposure  following  upon  her  being  turned 
out  of  doors  by  a  party  of  regulators,  who 
burned   up   her   house." 

"  It     was     sad ! "      Major     Leeson     could 


3G4  MTLLICEXT    HALFOCD. 

afford  to  pympathize  with  tliis  personal  case, 
—  tlie  misfortunes  of  his  late  lady-love. 

"  The  children  were  sent  Xortli,"  pursued 
Mrs.  Anson.  "Miss  Benuet  has  been  stay- 
ing here   for   the   last   few   weeks." 

Mr.  Leeson  closed  his  eyes,  quite  ex- 
hausted by  the  shock  of  tlie  information 
he  had  just  received.  Jane  Bonnet  was  an 
orphan,  suddenly  left  without  friends  or 
means  in  the  world.  Of  course,  her  father's 
unlucky  stand  in  politics  had  sequestered 
his  property.  He,  Mr.  Leeson,  owed  his 
life  to  her ;  for  no  common  care  could 
have  carried  him  safely  through  these  three 
weeks  of  fever.  A  hot  glow  shot  up  to 
his   temples   as   he    thought   of  it. 

"  Will  you  ask  Miss  Bennet  to  come  in 
and  see  me  ? "  he  said,  an  hour  later,  as 
his  nurse  rose  to  leave  him  alone.  "  We 
are  old  friends  ;  and  I  should  like,  beside, 
to   express   my  sense    of  these    obligations." 

It  would  prove  an  embarrassing  meeting 
under  any  circumstances,  but  better  carried 
out   in    the    weakness    of    this    still    languid 


RETROSPECTION.  365 

convalescence  than  at  a  later  period  of  fuller 
health.  He  lay  back  on  the  lounge,  wait- 
ing with  an  impatience  which  seemed 
strange  to  himself  the  approach  of  the 
well-remembered  footstep.  He  waited  in 
vain,  and  presently  the  nurse  reappeared, 
saying  that  Miss  Bennet  would  see  him  on 
the  morrow.  "  She  leaves  us  in  a  few 
days,"  she  added.  ^'  I  believe  she  has  ap- 
plied for  a  situation  as  assistant  nurse  in 
some    hospital." 

Mr.  Leeson  turned  his  face  languidly  up- 
on his  pillow  ;  he  was  surprised  at  the 
feeling  of  disappointment  which  oppressed 
him.  What  were  Jane  Bennet's  plans  to 
him  ?     Certainly   nothing. 

Another  matter  should  have  claimed  a 
share  in  Mr.  Leeson's  thoughts,  and  cer- 
tainly did  for  the  next  few  minutes.  It 
was  his  purpose  to  pen  a  note  to  Augusta 
that  evening,  which  note  should  have  been 
despatched  already,  to  relieve  her  mind  of 
the  distress  which  must  have  followed  up- 
on    the     premature     announcement    of    his 


366  MILLTCENT  IIALFORD. 

death.  The  last  three  months  had  wrought 
a  material  change  in  Augusta's  outward  cir- 
cumstances. Mr.  Stuart,  in  his  old  age,  had 
taken  a  commission  in  the  army.  Tudor 
Hall  had  been  wasted  and  made  a  ruin 
in  the  storm  of  war  which  had  swept  over 
the  fairest  portions  of  Virginia ;  the  young 
lady's  own  property  had  been  swept  away 
by  the  same  devastating  influences,  and  she 
was  at  present  residing  with  Miss  Stuart, 
in  one  of  the  northern  counties  of  Ken- 
tucky, on  the  border-line  between  that 
State  and  Virginia.  Strange  as  it  may 
seem  to  the  reader,  when  cou[)lcd  with  Mr. 
James's  previous  generous  declaration,  the 
loss  of  his  bride's  fortune  had  proved  to 
him  a  serious  disappointment ;  he  had  se- 
cretly counted  upon  it  to  remove  the  cares 
and  straitnesses  which  always,  more  or  less, 
fall  to  the  lot  of  the  tyro  in  his  early 
years  in  his  over-crowded  profession  ;  for, 
whatever  may  be  his  talents,  he  must  first 
make  them  known  to  be  appreciated,  and 
to  not  one  in  a  thousand  does  the  rare 
opportunity  offer   to  do   this  in    the  outset. 


EETROSPECTION.  367 

Mr.  Leeson  was  too  thoroughly  practical  to 
despise  the  generous    dower  which   he  was 
to  receive  with  the    hand   of  his   affianced  ; 
and  it  may,  after   all,  be  questioned   if  this 
property  did  not  weigh  at  the   time  in  his 
rejection  of  Miss  Bennet.     True,  the  young 
couple    had    quarrelled,  ~  a   lover's   quarrel, 
which  chance  might  easily  have  reconciled,- 
but    Augusta,    with    her    love   and    wealth, 
came   between    them.      James   was   nothing 
loath   to    be  won,  as  we   saw,   a  few  pages 
back ;    but  his   first  -thought   in   the   matter 
was   awakened   by  the  evident   partiality  of 
his  cousin. 

"I  must  write  to  Augusta,"  he  thought, 
"if  my  fingers  are  steady  enough  to  hold  a 
pen.  It  is  uncertain  if  the  letter  will  reach 
ber;  but  I  shall  at  least  have  fulfilled  my 
part." 

Unconsciously  to  himself,  Mr.  Leeson's 
closing  remark  showed  which  way  his 
thoughts  were  drifting.  It  was  not  of  his 
betrothed's  comfort  and  ease  that  he  thought, 
but  of  the  duty  devolving  upon  his  side  of 
the  matter.     Could  that  high-spirited  young 


368  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

lady  have  guessed  at  the  wandering  state  of 
mind  from  wliicli  emanated  the  few  irregu- 
larly-traced lines  which  her  lover  now  pro- 
ceeded to  pencil,  with  what  blinding  tears 
of  mortiflcation  and  anger  would  she  have 
flung  the   letter  beneath   her   feet ! 

To  one  other  James  Leeson's  thoughts 
turned.  Though  not  the  most  dutiful  of 
sons,  he  could  but  regret  the  shock  which 
this  announcement  of  his  demise  must  give 
his  mother.  He  had  not  heard  from  her 
since  the  day  on  which  he  had  left  Bowl- 
ing Green,  and,  of  course,  had  no  informa- 
tion of  the  unpleasant  circumstances  which 
had  afterwards  transpired.  Little,  indeed, 
did  he  dream  that  she  could  be  in  the  same 
neighborhood  with  himself,  breathing  the 
same  air;  or  that,  in  the  smoke  and  din  of 
that  yesterday's  battle,  the  officer  who  had 
twice  drawn  his  unstead}"  aim,  conspicuous 
for  the  gallantry  with  which  he  led  on 
charge  after  charge,  was  his  brother,  Fred- 
erick !  Could  it  be  that  a  mother's  prayer 
in  one  of  those  houses  hard  by  unnerved 
his   hand,   and  turned   aside   his   bullet? 


CHAPTER     XLIII. 

THE   ESTRANGED    LOYERS. 

IT  was  a  mutually-embarrassing  meeting 
which  the  morning  held  in  store  for  the 
alienated  lovers.  The  gentleman  reclining  in 
his  easy-chair,  still  pale  with  the  languor  of 
convalescence,  presented  an  unusually  inter- 
esting appearance,  as  he  rose  and  took  the 
hand  of  his  visitor,  with  a  few  words  of 
thanks  for  her  kindness,  of  which  he  could 
not  affect  to  be  ignorajat.  His  usual  flow 
of  words  seemed  quite  to  have  deserted 
him ;  he  fulfilled  his  part  awkwardly,  with 
an  embarrassment  as  new  to  himself  as  it 
was  secretly  acceptable  to  the  lady  before 
him.  She  knew  nothing  of  his  engagement 
with  his  cousin.  The  story,  thougli  the 
property  of  the  servants  in  the  family,  had 
24  369 


370  MTLLICENT    IIALFORD. 

by  some  uncommon  good  fortune  been  con- 
fined to  the  bounds  of  Wheatley  Place,  and 
she  saw  in  his  agitation  only  the  reflection  of 
her  own,  —  the  pleasure  of  meeting  mingled 
with  the  pain  of  the  new  circumstances 
which  environed  them  both.  She  had  given 
to  him  a  sister's  care  in  these  weeks  of  help- 
lessness, and  had  not  hesitated  to  share 
with  his  nurse  in  her  vigils  at  his  pillow ; 
but  to  give  back  her  old  trust  and  the  prom- 
ise of  her  hand  to  a  man  who  stood  on  the 
side  stained  with  her  parents'  blood,  was,  of 
course,  not  to  be  thought  of.  She  would 
gladly  have  refused  even  this  interview, 
and  the  few  more  which  might  follow  while 
they  should  continue  under  the  same  roof; 
but  a  voice  whispered  they  might  never 
meet  again.  The  next  battle-field  might  re- 
ceive the  misguided  young  man  as  a  victim 
to  the  fate  from  which  the  care  of  friends 
had  now  snatched   him. 

"  You  owe  me  no  thanks,  Mr.  Leeson," 
she  said,  struggling  to  regain  her  compos- 
ure, as  she  took  her  seat.     ^'  You  were  wound- 


THE   ESTRANGED   LOVERS.  371 

ed  —  dying,  I  at  first  thought  —  on  that 
lonely  field.  It  was  but  an  act  of  charity, 
such  as  I  hope  would  have  been  given  to 
a  stranger,  to  take  you  in." 

"  You  have  met  with  a  great  loss,"  said 
James.     "  Mrs.  Anson  told  me." 

"  Yes ;  my  dear  father.  He  fell  a  sacri- 
fice for  his  country.  After  my  mother's 
dfeath,  he  felt  that  he  had  a  debt  to  pay. 
I  little  dreamed  that  he  would  fall  in  his 
first  battle." 

"  These  are  dark  days,"  observed  Major 
Leeson,  slightly  at  a  loss  how  to  ofi'er  con- 
solation. '^  Many  homes  are  already  broken 
up,  and  the  end  does  not  look  to  me  to  be 
very  near." 

Jane  looked  at  him  earnestly.  Was  ho 
already  wavering  in  his  heart  over  the  choice 
he  had  taken  ? 

"  The  end  will  not  come  till  the  South  re- 
turns," she  said.  "  Though  all  that  I  have 
is  gone,  yet,  for  the  sake  of  those  who 
must  still  suffer,  I  can  pray  that  God  will 
speed  that  blessed  time." 


3i-2  MILLICEKT   IIALFORD. 

^'We  shall  never  return,"  said  Mr.  Lee- 
son;  "it  is  a  woman's  thought  to  dream  of 
it." 

''  You  still  believe  that  the  purposes  for 
which  this  struggle  was  opened  will  be 
carried  out  ?  " 

'^  I  do ;  I  cannot  doubt  their  success." 

'^  God  will  not  permit  it,"  said  Jane,  fer- 
vently. "  No  such  beginnings  as  these  are 
prospered.  You  may  not  have  seen,  as  I 
have,  the  desolated  homes,  the  smoking  ruins, 
the  helpless  families  turned  out  to  starve. 
What  had  my  father  done  ?  Nothing ;  yet 
they  burned  his  house,  and  turned  my  moth- 
er out  to  her  death  in  the  chill  night." 

"  The  fruits  of  civil  war,"  said  Mr.  Leeson, 
gently.  '*  They  are  reproduced  in  the  heat 
and  passion  of  such  struggles  in  every  coun- 
try. Wait  till  you  see  some  county  or  vil- 
lage of  our  poor  Kentucky  fall  under  Union 
rule,  and  you  will  see  the  same.     Civil  war 


IS  merciless  I 


f  >' 


"  You  began  it,"  said  Jane,  sorrowfully. 
"  Where  is  the  Union  man  who  first  put  a 
torch  to  his  neighbor's  house  ?  " 


THE   ESTRANGED    LOVERS.  373 

"You  women  feel  rather  than  reason/' 
said  James,  with  a  faint  smile.  ''  But  Avhat 
can  you  tell  me  of  my  family,  Miss  Bennet? 
I  have  not  heard  from  my  mother  since  I 
took  my  commission." 

"  I  do  not  know  what  to  tell  'you/'  said 
the  young  lady,  hesitating,  and  glancing  at 
his  pallid  face.  "  It  is  nearly  eight  weeks 
since  I  left   Rossenville." 

"My  mother  was  then  in  her  usual 
health?"  asked  James,  startled  at  her  hes- 
itation. 

"  She  was  feeble,  but  not  worse  than  she 
had  been  for  some  time." 

Miss  Bennet  was  keeping  back  a  secret. 
Mr.  Leeson  noticed  it  with  an  uneasy  per- 
ception of  the  fact. 

"  You  have  some  unpleasant  news  for 
me,"  he  said.  "  You  need  not  hesitate.  I 
think  I  can  bear  it." 

"  The  worst  is  better  than  suspense," 
said  Miss  Bennet,  wisely  concluding  it  best 
to  keep  back  a  part. 

"  You   are   not   aware   that  your  brother, 


374  inLLICEXT   HALFORD. 

Frederick,  has  taken  a  commission  in  tlio 
Union  army  ?  " 

"  I  can  scarcely  say  that  I  am  surprised," 
said  James,  thoughtfully.  "  So  that  is  your 
news  ?  Can  you  tell  me  anything  of  his 
present  whereabouts  ?  " 

"  He  was  in  the  late  battle." 

James  shuddered.  "  How  fortunate  we 
were  kept  apart !  " 

"  I  dare  not  stay  longer,"  said  Jane,  ris- 
ing. ''  I  see  you  are  growing  wearied.  I 
will  come  again  to-morrow,  if  you  like,  or 
send  in  a  book.     Are   you  able  to  read?" 

Mr.  Leeson  was  not  sure  that  his  head 
would  yet  bear  the  application  of  steady 
thought ;  he  made  some  demur  to  his  visit- 
or's departure ;  but  Jane  promised  another 
visit,  and  hastily  took  her  leave. 


I 


CHAPTER     XLIV. 

AN  UNEXPECTED   MEETING. 

T  was  a  delicate  task  to  break  to  Mr. 
Leeson  the  unsuspected  fact  of  his 
mother^s  close  proximity,  and  the  more  that 
the  circumstances  of  both  mother  and  son 
interposed  to  any  immediate  meeting.  Mrs. 
Leeson  had  been  removed  to  Belmont  by 
easy  stages,  and  had  been  taken  to  her 
chamber  on  her  arrival,  with  very  little  pros- 
pect of  again  leaving  it  for  any  other  change 
than  to  that  narrow  bed  which  awaits  us 
each  at  some  near  or  distant  day.  She  Avas 
herself  fully  aware  of  her  dangerous  condi- 
tion, and  among  the  unquiet  thoughts  which 
pressed  upon  her  mind  came  oftenest  the 
image  of  the  young  daughter  about  to  be 
left  to   the   doubtful   protection   of  her   two 

375 


376  MILLICEXT    HALFOIID. 

brothers.  Frederick,  slie  well  knew,  would 
guard  this  charge  as  sacredly  as  his  honor; 
but  bis  part  was  now  in  the  foremost  rank 
of  peril;  beside  the  unfitness  of  a  man  to 
preside  over  the  destinies  of  a  young  girl, 
his  daily  life  lay  in  camps.  Was  there  no 
one  of  her  own  sex  to  wliom  she  could  com- 
mit her  ?  If  Frederick  and  Augusta  had 
married,  Mrs.  Leeson's  dying  pillow,  despite 
its  still  lingering  thorns,  must  have  been 
crowned  with  content ;  but  the  perverse 
girl  had  cliosen  to  throw  away  from  her  a 
true  heart  for  one  whose  fickleness  she 
might  yet  know.  Millicent  was  kind ;  her 
aunt  had  grown  to  lean  upon  her  in  these 
long  weeks  of  feebleness  and  suffering  with 
an  affection  little  short  of  that  with  wliich 
she  regarded  her  own  family  ;  but  a  poor 
governess,  setting  aside  the  girl's  still  ex- 
treme youth,  could  be  no  fit  guardian  for 
Ad^le. 

There  was  no  friend  left  but  Miss  Stuart 
to  be  consulted  in  this  anxious  hour,  and, 
quite  ignorant  of  this  lady's  change   of  for- 


AN  UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  377 

tune  in  the  long  silence  which  had  come 
between  them,  Mrs.  Leeson  directed  Milli- 
cent  to  pen  a  short  letter  to  Tudor  Hall, 
stating  in  a  few  words  the  circumstances 
which  had  lately  transpired,  describing  her 
present  feeble  state,  and  expressing  a  fer- 
vent desire  to  see  her,  as  the  last  favor 
which  remained  to  be  granted  her  in  life. 
Millicent  dropped  a  tear  upon  it  as  she  fold- 
ed it.  She  knew  that  her  aunt  had  grown 
much  worse  since  her  journey;  but  she 
hoped  that  with  rest  and  quiet  she  might 
again  revive.  Days  went  by,  and  the  letter 
received  no  answer.  The  battle  of  Belmont 
took  place.  Mrs.  Leeson  passed  through 
the  excitements  of  that  terrible  day  alive, 
and  quite  unconscious  in  its  gray  nightfall 
that  her  son,  for  whom  her  prayers  momen- 
tarily ascended,  was  being  borne  past  her 
house  to  an  adjacent  dwelling.  She  knew 
of  Frederick's  safety,— he  had  taken  care  to 
send  her  a  hasty  message  ;  but,  though  she 
feared,  she  had  still  no  assurance  of  James's 
presence  upon   the  field.     Miss  Bennet,  who 


378  AfTLLICENT   HALFORD. 

had  encountered  Adele  once  or  twice  in 
the  village  street,  came  twice  or  tlirice  to 
her  sick-room ;  but  her  visits  gave  her  little 
pleasure  ;  they  brought  painful  associations 
of  the  one  event  which  might  have  turned 
otherwise,  and  the  girl's  loneliness  and  or- 
phanhood, strange  as  it  may  seem,  brought, 
up  a  painful  picture  of  the  future  near  at 
hand  for  her  child.  Sick  pilbws,  where 
the  dying  soul  has  yet  much  to  learn  of  God, 
are  ever  fruitful  in  morbid   thoughts. 

It  was  not  until  the  morning  after  Major 
Leeson  had  announced  himself  able  to  de- 
scend from  his  chamber,  and  had  actually 
got  down  to  the  bleak,  frost-stripped  gar- 
den to  take  in  the  strong,  out-of-door  air, 
that  Miss  Bennet  thought  proper  to  com- 
municate to  him  the  unpleasant  news  which 
had  slumbered  so  long  in  her  possession. 
Wheatley  Place,  the  home  in  which  he  had 
been  reared,  and  around  which  all  his  early 
associations  clung,  was  now  a  heap  of  black 
ruins,  and  his  mother,  driven  out  on  that 
dark  night  for  her  life,  was  lying  seriously 


AN  UNEXPECTED   MEETING.  379 

ill  in  one  of  these  village  houses,  whose  roofs 
rose  in  distinct  view  of  his  window. 

"It  was  scarcely  kind  to  keep  me  in  ig- 
norance," observed  Major  Leeson,  whoso 
second  thought  was  that  these  facts  should 
have  been  told  before. 

"  It  has  spared  you  anxiety/^  said  Jane, 
"  which  has  been  everything  in  your  weak 
state." 

Perhaps  it  had.  He  was  feeling  strong 
now.  Two  days  at  farthest,  he  had  secretly 
decided,  should  see  him  on  his  way  to  re- 
join his  command.  He  would  visit  his  moth- 
er; she  could  not  refuse  to  see  him,  how- 
ever little  of  satisfaction  the  interview  might 
hold  for  either.  Another  reflection  struck 
him,  perhaps  connected  with  this  by  some 
subtile  train  of  association  as  he  glanced  at 
his  patient  nurse.  He  had  acted  foolishly 
in  one  important  matter  of  his  life,  and  he 
distinctly  saw  it.  His  acceptance  of  his 
cousin's  preference  had  been  unwise.  It 
was  Jane,  and  Jane  only,  whom  he  had 
really  loved.     Was  there  any  possibility  of  re- 


380  MILLICENT  HALFORD. 

tracing  this  step?  Could  Frederick  be  won 
over  to  accept  the  dowerless  hand  which,  in 
the  hour  of  prosperity,  had  been  refused 
him  ?  No,  no  !  He  knew  tliat  all  this  mat- 
ter was  at  an  end ;  he  had  made  his  elec- 
tion, and  it  must  remain.  It  is  a  hard 
matter  to  accept  an  unloved  wife.  Mr. 
James  Leeson,  in  the  presence  of  the  ob- 
ject of  his  secret  choice,  acknowledged 
this  fact. 

"  You  are  wearied,"  said  Jane,  arranging 
the  pillows  of  the  lounge,  and  turning  her 
eyes  as  she  did  so  from  the  sunset  skies, 
glowing  with  light  clouds  of  crimson  and 
gold,  to  the  face  of  the  invalid.  *'  I  fear  my 
news  has  affected  you  unpleasantly.  Mrs. 
Leeson  is  not  by  any  means  hopelessly  ill ; 
she  has  been  much  excited  by  the  late  bat- 
tle, and  a  degree  of  weakness,  of  course, 
follows ;  but  I  think    she  will   shortly  rall3\" 

"I  was  considering  my  ov;n  plans,"  said 
James,  concisely.  ''  I  expect  to  be  able  to 
travel  in  a  couple  of  days." 

Jane's  eyes  dropped.     The  announcement 


AN    UNEXPECTED    MEETING.  381 

could  not  be  said  to  take  her  by  surprise ; 
yet  all  unpleasant  tidings  are  in  their  na- 
ture sudden. 

"  There  are  many  matters  which  I  re- 
gret/' said  James,  taking  his  companion's 
hand,  quite  carried  out  of  himself  by  the 
sight  of  her  emotion. 

The  door  opened  opposite ;  a  lady  wear- 
ing a  travelling  cloak,  but  otherwise  hab- 
ited in  deep  mourning,  crossed  the  threshold, 
Mr.  Leeson,  whose  face  turned  toward  her, 
recognized  Augusta.  He  dropped  the  hand 
of  the  lady  at  his  side,  with  a  guilty  glow 
upon  his  face,  and  half  rose  to  receive  her. 
Miss  Bennet  turned  round,  and,  recovering 
her  self-possession  with  admirable  quickness, 
rose  and  went  toward  her. 

Augusta  stood  like  one  who  had  received 
a  painful  shock,  her  color  wavering,  her 
eyes  bright.  She  could  not  be  blind  to  the 
tableau  her  quick  glance  recalled.  Her  keen 
jealously  gave  it  a  true   interpretation. 

"  You  did  not  get  my  note  ?  "  she  asked, 
hurriedly,  addressing  Mr.  Leeson. 


382  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

His  eyes  turned  to  tlie  table  upon  wliich 
it  was  lying  unopened.  It  bad  been  taken 
up  by  Mrs.  Anson  wliile  be  was  below  in 
tlie  garden,  and  bad  escaped  bis  notice  on 
bis  entrance. 


CHAPTER    XLV. 

MEETING  BETWEEN  MOTHER   AND   SON. 

MISS  BENNET  was  quite  unaware  of 
any  cause  for  embarrassment  in  this 
unexpected  meeting.  Augusta's  first  sen- 
tence as  she  took  the  chair  which  the  young 
lady  placed  for  her  explained  her  sudden 
appearance. 

"  We  arrived  an  hour  ago,"  she  said. 
^'  Miss  Stuart  w^as  too  wearied  with  her  jour- 
ney to  see  you  this  evening.  I  left  her  in 
your  mother's   chamber." 

"  Until  a  few  moments  ago,"  said  Major 
Leeson,  "I  had  no  suspicions  of  my  moth- 
er's close  neighborhood.  These  kind  friends 
wbo  have  nursed  me  through  my  sickness 
thouglit  best  to  keep  back  the  knowledge 
until  I   should  be  able  to  leave  my  room." 

383 


384  MILLICEXT    IIALFORD. 

"You  liave  had  a  long  confinement,"  ob- 
served Augusta,  bestowing  a  look  upon  his 
nurse. 

''  I  had  forgotten  to  inquire  for  Colonel 
Stuart,*'  said  Major  Leeson,  glancing  at  her 
mourning  dress,  which  had  attracted  his  at- 
tention upon  her  appearance. 

"  You  have  not  received  our  letters 
then  ? ''  Augusta  looked  surprised.  "  You 
are  not  aware  of  his  death?  He  fell  in  a 
late  skirmish." 

''  I  was  not  aware  of  it,"  said  Major  Lee- 
son, much  shocked.  "  Your  letters  have  all 
missed  me.  I  have  not  heard  from  you 
directly  since  we   parted." 

Mrs.  Anson  knocked  at  the  door.  She 
held  a  letter  for  Miss  Bennet.  Jane  went 
out. 

An  awkward  pause  fell  between  the  two 
who  were  left  together.  James  felt  the 
wrong  which  he  had  been  secretly  doing  his 
betrothed  in  his  thoughts.  Augusta  was  ill- 
pleased  with  the  established  presence  of 
her   lover's   old    fiancee  in    his    sick-chamber, 


MEETING   BETV7EEN   MOTHER   AND   SON.     385 

not  to  speak  of  graver  anxieties  which  would 
intrude  upon  her,  strive  as  she  might  to 
thrust  them  out. 

"  This  visit  is  an  unexpected  pleasure, 
Augusta,"  said  Mr.  Leeson,  penetrating  her 
thoughts.  '^I  had  httle  hope  of  seeing  you. 
In  a  couple  of  days  I  look  forward  to  set- 
ting out  to  join  my  command.'' 

"  A  letter  from  your  mother  brought  us 
here/'  returned  Augusta.  "  She  was  anx- 
ious to  see  Miss  Stuart.  I  regret  to  tell 
you   she   is  very  ill." 

He  had  guessed  as  much,  carefully  guard- 
ed as  Jane's   communication  had  been. 

Augusta  drew  his  attention  to  the  gath- 
ering twilight,  and  rose  to  leave  him.  Her 
short  call  had  proved  unsatisfactory  to  both. 

"  When  shall  I  see  you  again  ?  "  he  asked, 
retaining  her  hand.     She  hesitated. 

"  I  shall  visit  my  mother  to-morrow,"  he 
said,  —  ''with  her  permission.  May  I  ask 
of  you  the  favor  to  obtain  it?" 

"  She  is  by  this  time  aware  of  your  pres- 
ence  here,"    replied    Augusta.      "  No    doubt 


386  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

Miss   Stuart   has   told   her.      You   need   not 
hesitate  to  present  yourself." 
.    "  I   shall  come  in  at  an  early  hour/'   said 
James,   dropping   her   hand.      She    said    her 
adieu  quietly,  and  stepped  out. 

A  nev/  subject  had  come  up  fof  reflection 
as  Mr.  James  reclined  back  on  his  pillows 
on  the  lounge.  Augusta's  lonely  and  or- 
phaned condition  required  the  fulfilment  of 
his  engagement.  Her  guardian  and  protec- 
tor gone,  her  fortune  wasted,  he  could  not 
be  blind  to  the  only  honorable  course  which 
opened  before  him.  A  few  rhonths  before, 
a  feAV  weeks  even,  how  gladly  would  he 
have  taken  upon  himself  these  obligations ! 

Jane  came  back  with  a  shadow  of  un- 
usual thought  upon  her  face.  She  took  her 
seat  at  a  little  distance  from  the  sofa,  where 
the  gathering  dusk  hid  the  gloom  of  her 
face. 

James  remembered  the  application  of 
which  Mrs.  Anson  had  spoken,  and  guessed 
at  the  cause  of  her  silence.  "  I  hope  your 
letter  contains  no  ill  news.  Miss  Bennet,"  he 
said,  rousing  himself  to  speak. 


MEETING  BETWEEN  MOTHER  AND  SON.  387 

"  On  the  contrary,"  said  Jane,  calmly. 
"  It  is  a  favorable  answer  to  my  application 
to  be  received  as  an  assistant  in  a  hospital. 
I  shall  set  out  on  my  journey  to-morrow." 

''  So  soon  ! "  Yet  it  was  best ;  he  must 
bring  back  his  truant  thoughts,  and  fix  them 
where  his  duty  no  less  than  his  happiness 
required   that   they   should    henceforth   rest. 

Major  Leeson's  visit  to  her  mother  took 
place  at  an  hour  not  far  from  noon  on  the 
following  day.  Mrs.  Leeson  received  him 
in  her  chamber,  which,  indeed,  she  had  not 
left  since  the  evening  of  her  arrival.  Pre- 
pared as  he  was  for  a  great  change  in  her 
appearance,  the  sight  of  her  wan  face  and 
silvered  hair  affected  him  unpleasantly;  he 
sat  down  by  her  bedside  wholl}^  unable  to 
frame  the  words  which  had  risen  to  his 
lips  at  his  entrance.  Obedient  to  a  sign 
from  her  annt,  Millicent  had  gone  out. 
Adele  was  not  present.  Miss  Stuart  and 
Augusta  purposely  absented  themselves  from 
this  interview. 

^^  You  find  me  very  ill,  my  son,"  said  Mrs. 


388  MILLTCENT    IIALFORD. 

Leeson,  witlid rawing  licr  eyc3  with  a  sliucl- 
der  from  tlie  distinctive  uniform  which, 
though  stained  and  defaced  on  the  field  of 
Belmont,  James  had  been  obliged  to  re- 
sume in  the  absence  of  his  servant  with 
his  other  wearing  apparel.  "  I  feel  that  the 
close  of  these  troublous  days  for  mo  is  near 
at  hand." 

''I  trust  you  w^ill  grow  better  with  rest,'' 
said  her  son.  "  Low  spirits  are  always  an 
accompaniment  to  a  sick  pillow\'' 

"  I  am  anxious  for  Ad61e,"  resumed  his 
mother,  without  heeding  his  reply.  *'  Miss 
Stuart  has  told  me  of  her  own  impoverished 
circumstances.  I  hoped  to  have  given  ray 
daughter  to  her  charge.  The  fortunes  of 
life  are  uncertain.  Yours  and  Frederick's, 
in  these   gloomy  times,  doubly  so.'' 

"  I  will  provide  for  her,"  said  Major  Lee- 
son, speaking  w^ith  the  earnestness  of  a  prom- 
ise in  his  voice.  "  Should  the  worst  come, 
ray  dear  mother,  —  which  I  cannot  antici- 
pate,—  assure  yourself  tli^xt  you  are  not 
leaving  her  alone." 


MEETING  BETWEEN  MOTHER  AND  SON.  389 

"  If  jou  and  Frederick  could  be  recon- 
ciled/' said  his  mother,  wistfully ;  "  but  that 
is  impossible  !  Oh,  James,  is  it  too  late  to 
leave  the  unrighteous  cause  which  you  have 
taken  up,  and  which  my  dying  eyes  see  can 
never  be  prospered  ?  " 

"  I  have  no  desire  to  quit  it,  mother." 
Major  Leeson's  voice  was  softened,  but  firm. 

^'  You  are  about  to  marry  Augusta  ?  " 

Major  Lees  on  drew  back  a  little  at  the 
abruptness  of  the  question.  "  We  are  be- 
trothed, mother,"  he  answered. 

''  You  have  done  Frederick  a  grievous 
wrong,  James,"  said  his  mother.  "  Your 
injustice  will  never  be  forgiven." 

''  We  are  all  the  creatures  of  circum- 
stance, more  or  less,"  returned  Major.  Lee- 
son  ;  he  did  not  add  how  heartily  he  wished 
it  in  his  power  to  recall  his  part  in  these 
transactions. 

"  You  have  changed  much,  James,"  said 
Mrs.  Leeson,  attentively  regarding  him. 
"  There  are  lines  upon  your  forehead  which 
were  not  there  when  you  left  us,  and  the 
old  expression  of  your  face  is  gone." 


390  MILLTCENT    IIALFORD. 

"  I  have  not  been  living  a  holiday  life  in 
these  last  months,  mother,"  answered  Major 
Leeson,  trying  to  force  a  smile.  ^'  We  sol- 
diers in  camps  taste  few  of  the  comfuits  of 
civilized  homes." 

^'  A  poor  evasion,"  said  his  mother,  lan- 
guidly returning-  his  smile.  ^'  You  be,i:in  to 
feel,  James,  that  tlie  cause  you  have  entered 
upon  is  a  perilous  one." 

"  Far  from  it,  mother ;  but  let  us  close 
the  subject  if  you  please.  I  have  chosen 
my  politics;  Frederick  has   chosen  his." 

'^  I  shall  see  you  again?"  she  asked,  as, 
noticing  the  weariness  whicli  was  creeping 
over  her,  he  shortly  rose  to  go.  He  mur- 
mured an   assent,  and  went  out. 


CHAPTER    XLVI. 

MAJOR   LEESON'S  DEPARTURE. 

/|-AJOR  LEESON   reached   his  own  door 
just  ill  time  to  hand  Miss  Bennet  into 
the    carriage  which  was  waiting  to    receive 
her.     It  was  better,  this  public  parting,  than 
the  more  dangerous  adieu  of  a  sick-chamber. 
Major  Leeson  involuntarily  clasped  the  hand 
he  was  about  to  relinquish,  and  forced  back 
the   words    which    rose    to    his    lips.       He 
thought   of    the   long  night-watches,    of  the 
kind    hours  doled  out  to   his  weariness  and 
weakness,   and   memory   went    back    to   the 
happy  days  at  Rossenville,  which  were  never 
to  come  again. 

"  He  has  chosen,'^  thought  Jane,  glancing 
at  the  uniform  which  must  now  always  be 
regarded  by  her  with  abhorrence.      Regrets 

391 


392  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

are  too  late  fur  us  both,  and  with  a  fervent 

"  God   bless   you  ! "    in    place  of  any  colder 

term    of    adieu,    she    settled   herself    in    her 

seat,  and  turned  away  her  face. 

Both  were  about   to   part   for  action,   the 

greatest  blessing  in  such  shadowed  hours, — 

the    one    for  the  field  of  strife  and  carnage, 
f 

where  life  lies  at  the  mercy  of  the  whistling 
bullet  and  the  whirring  shell;  the  other, 
for  those  after-scenes,  which  are  scarcely 
less  mournful,  and,  unlike  the  field  of  battle, 
unenlivened  by  strains  of  music,  or  the  ex- 
citement of  triumphant  charges. 

An  hour  later  Augusta  came  with  Miss 
Stuart  to  pay  Mr.  Leeson  a  morning  visit 
in  his  sick-chamber,  and  he  was  struck  for 
the  first  time  with  the  change  in  her  de- 
portment toward  him.  Could  it  be  that  she 
resented  Miss  Bonnet's  attendance  upon  him 
in  these  past  weeks  ?  It  was  very  evident 
that  she  did.  A  glow  of  resentment  flushed 
his  cheek  at  these  unworthy  suspicions  ;  he 
forgot  for  the  moment  how  fully  he  had 
merited  them. 


MAJOR   LEESON'S   DEPARTURE.  393 

The  day  but  one  following  he  had  settled 
upon  for  his  departure.  There  was  little 
time  to  waste,  and  he  seized  upon  the  first 
opportunity  of  opening  his  plans  to  his 
betrothed. 

Augusta  listened  to  his  proposals  for  their 
immediate  marriage  in  a  silence  which  boded 
ominously  for  their  success.  Perhaps  she 
saw  the  cold  impulse  of  duty,  rather  than 
of  affection,  which  lay  under  it;  certainly 
her  sight,  quickened  by  jealousy,  had  caught 
a  distinct  view  of  her  lover's  position.  She 
could  not  forget  the  glow  of  guilt  upon  his 
face  when  she  had  surprised  him  after  their 
long  separation  in  the  act  of  holding  Jane 
Bennet's  hand,  and,  tender  and  guarded  as 
was  his  deportment  toward  her  in  the  few 
hours  which  had  passed  since  their  meet- 
ing, she  missed  out  of  it  a  life,  a  vitality, 
which  the  old  happy  days  had  held. 

Mr.  James  Leeson's  fickle  attachment  to 
herself  had  quite  evaporated  with  the  loss 
of  her  fortune.  It  remained  to  be  seen  if 
her   pride    could    consent   to    give    him   up. 


394  WILLICEXT   HALFORD. 

Strange  tliat  this  same  motive  which  liad 
actuated  Frederick's  suit  for  her  hand  should 
have  secretly  swayed  his  brother  ! 

"  I  cannot  consent  to  marry  you  at  pres- 
ent, James,"  she  said,  quietly  settling  the 
subject.  "  So  suddenly  upon  my  guardian's 
death,  it  is  quite  impossible." 

Major  Leeson  remonstrated.  "  The  pe- 
culiar circumstances  of  the  times,  Augusta," 
he  urged,  "  are  a  sufficient  reason  for  this 
step.  I  shall  feel  more  at  ease  in  the 
dangers  and  exposures  of  the  field  to  know 
that  you  are  my  wife,  and  that  in  case  I 
should  fall  your  future  is  provided  for  as 
far  as  any  earthly  means  of  mine  can  pro- 
vide  for." 

If  he  had  kept  out  the  closing  sentence  ! 
Augusta  saw  distinctly  the  cold  lines  of 
duty. 

"My  mind  is  settled  upon  the  matter," 
she  answered,  coldly.  ^'  I  shall  not  marry 
until  I  lay  by  my  mourning  for  Mr.  Stuart." 

The  subject  was  closed  :  Major  Leeson  said 
no  more.     Early  in  the  morning  he  took  his 


M^JOR  LEESOX'S  DEPARTUEE.      395 

departure,    after  a  sorrowful  leave-taking  of 
his  mother  and  sister. 

Augusta  was  not  present ;  he  met  her  in 
the  hall  as  he  came  down.  She  gave  him 
her  hand.  The  icy  coldness  of  her  fingers 
struck  him  through  her  glove.  "  You  will 
write  to  me  ? "  he  said,  in  a  low  voice. 
"  Augusta,   what  has  come  between  us  ? " 

Milhcent  stepped  into  the  hall  from  her 
morning  walk.  Both  started,  discomposed 
at  sight  of  her.  She  held  a  letter  in  her 
hand,  her  face  radiant  with  pleasure  as 
she  passed  them. 

^' Adieu,  Major  Leeson,'^  said  Augusta, 
drawing  away  her  fingers.  "  I  hope  you 
will  be  preserved  safely  through  all  that  lies 
before  you.''  She  moved  away,  the  folds  of 
her  light  dress  disappearing  through  the 
opposite  door. 

He  looked  after  her  with  a  sigh,  and 
stepped  out  to  mount  his  horse.  He  heard 
a  sash  raised,  and  looked  up  to  see  a  face 
framed  at  the  window.  It  should  have  "been 
Augusta's.     No,  it  was  Adele's.     Tears  were 


396  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

pouring  over  the  child's  face  as  she  waved 
her  farewell.  Major  Leeson  returned  it  in 
silence.  A  mournful  foreboding  pressed 
upon  him  ;  he  felt  that  he  might  never  re- 
turn. 

"I  dare  not  look  backward,"  he  thought, 
as  he  gave  the  rein  to  his  horse.  "  For- 
ward, forward,   henceforth." 

^'  Frederick  is  coming,  aunt,"  whispered 
Millicent,  bending  over  Mrs.  Leeson's  pil- 
low. '^  He  has  a  short  furlough,  and  will 
spend  two  days  with  us.  From  the  date  of 
his  letter,  we  may  expect  him  to-morrow." 

"  You  do  indeed  bring  me  good  news, 
Millicent,"  said  Mrs.  Leeson,  turning  her 
languid  face  toward  her  with  a  reviving 
gleam  of  joy.  "  Just  now  it  is  sorely  need- 
ed." 


CHAPTER    XLVII. 

THE   BATTLE   OF   MILL   SPRINGS. 

IT  was  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  Janu- 
ary, the  day  on  which  the  disastrous 
battle  of  Mill  Springs  befell  the  Confeder- 
ates, and  turned  the  tide  of  their  power  in 
Kentucky.  It  was  a  dark  morning,  made 
chill  with  showers  of  drizzling  rain.  The 
contest  opened  at  day-dawn,  and  was  kept 
up  until  the  shadows  of  night  closed  around 
the  beaten  army  in  their  intrenchments. 
Foremost  among  those  who,  with  a  bravery 
worthy  of  a  better  cause,  made  stand  after 
stand  against  the  victorious  army  pouring 
upon  them  was  Major  James  Leeson,  rally- 
ing his  men  in  the  face  of  death,  and  fight- 
ing himself  hand  to  hand — in  many  instances, 
side  by  side  —  with  several  of  his  old  neigh- 

397 


398  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

bors.  Close  at  his  elbow,  Captain  Rawdon 
levelled  his  musket  at  an  officer  not  many 
paces  from  them,  whoso  familiar  figure  his 
quick  hate  had  recognized,  and  just  at  that 
instant  a  passing  ball  buried  itself  in  his 
brain,  and  sent  him  headlong  to  the  eartli. 
The  struggle  at  this  point  now  raged  witli 
the  utmost  fury;  friend  contended  with 
friend,  neighl^or  with  neighbor ;  old  feuds 
were  remembered,  and  late  bitternesses  found 
their  hour  of  requital. 

"  If  poor  Bennet  could  have  lived  to  join 
in  this  day,"  murmured  Frederick  Leeson, 
as,  emerging  for  an  instant  from  the  smoke 
and  dust  of  battle,  he  mounted  a  rising 
knoll  from  which  he  could  plainly  see  the 
far-retreating  columns  of  tlie  enemy  pressed 
sullenly  back  at  the  point  of  the  bayonet, 
"  with  what  zest  he  would  have  repaid  his 
wrongs ! "  Even  as  his  lips  framed  the 
words,  a  stray  Minie  ball  from  one  of  the 
little  group  of  stragglers  still  debating  the 
ground  pierced  his  side,  and  he  fell  back, 
with  the  warm  blood    gushing  forth,  just  in 


THE   BxiTTLE   OF   MILL   SPRINGS.  399 

the  edge  of  the  wood.  His  comrades 
pressed  on.  They  had  no  time  to  give  to 
a  wounded  man,  whose  very  fall  was  per- 
haps unheeded,  though  he  had  been  a  mo- 
ment before  the  most  conspicuous  among 
them,  such  is  the  haste  and  excitement  of 
pursuit,  and  Frederick  laid  his  head  wearily 
back  on  the  wet  ground,  the  drooping 
branches  and  low  shrubs  almost  touching 
his  forehead,  while  the  tramp  of  steeds,  the 
ringing  of  footsteps,  the  confusion  of  shouts, 
and  the  rattle  of  musketry  died  off  in  the 
distance. 

It  was  a  cold  bed  to  rest  upon,  with  a 
dozen  stark  forms  lying  around  him,  and 
two  or  three,  yet  conscious,  sending  up  dis- 
mal groans  as  they  lay  parched  with  thirst, 
and  groaning  in  the  agony  of  their  wounds. 

It  could  not  be  far  from  high  noon,  though 
the  sky  was  still  overcast  with  the  thick, 
flying  clouds,  from  which  now  and  then  a 
fast  pattering  of  drops  descended  on  the 
dry  leaves  beneath.  Frederick  made  an 
effort  to  draw  out  his  watch;    but  his  hand 


400  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

fell  again  nerveless  by  lils  side.  Would 
tliey  never  come  back?  Must  he  die  here, 
surrounded  by  these  ghastly  sights,  with 
the  chill  rain  dropping  from  overhead,  and 
no  gentle  ear  at  hand  to  catch  his  parting 
words,  to  bear  them  to  the  dear  ones  whose 
nearness  to  his  heart  he  had  never  so  fully 
felt  before?  A  hot  heat  and  parching  thirst 
began  to  creep  over  him ;  wild,  fever-colored 
fancies  grew  to  aj^sume  shapes  in  his  brain ; 
a  drowsy,  sinking  sensation  followed  ;  ho 
raised  himself  feebly,  struggled  to  his  elbow 
to  send  one  last  glance  down  through  the 
naked  vista  of  woods,  and  fell  back  exhaust- 
ed and  fainting  on  the  wet  ground. 

When  Frederick  Leeson  revived,  he  found 
himself  lying  on  a  bed  in  what  seemed  to 
be  a  poor  log-house,  with  two  or  three 
figures  flitting  around  him. 

The  nature  of  his  wound,  with  the  long 
hours  of  exposure  which  had  followed,  had 
brought  on  a  severe  attack  of  fever,  and  a 
degree  of  light-headedness  which  made  him 
but   partially    conscious    to    surrounding    ob- 


THE   BATTLE   OF  MILL   SPRINGS,  401 

jects.  He  believed  himself  to  be  in  some 
out-of-the-way  chamber  at  Wheatley  Place 
after  the  first  bewildered  stare  around  his 
new  quarters,  and  recognized  one  of  the 
women  who  appeared  at  his  bedside  as  his 
slave,  Susan.  He  could  not  remember  in 
his  clouded  state  that  Wheatley  Place  ex- 
isted now  only  as  a  mass  of  ruins,  or  that 
his  slave,  Susan,  had  months  before  made 
good  her  escape,  with  her  infant  babe,  from 
his  ownership.  By  and  by  these  misty  fan- 
cies cleared ;  the  dull  pain  ceased  to  girdle 
his  temple  ;  the  burning  heat  which  coursed 
through  his  veins  subsided,  and  a  long,  re- 
freshing sleep  stole  over  his  tired  frame, 
from  which  he  awoke  in  the  full  possession 
of  his    senses. 

In  one  point  Frederick  had  certainly  not 
been  deceived;  .  it  was  his  former  slave, 
Susan,  who  watched  at  his  bedside.  The 
girl  betrayed  no  fear.  It  might  be  that  she 
knew  her  master's  helpless  condition  to  be  for 
the  time  her  sufficient  safeguard,  or  it  might 
be  that  in  this  lonely  spot  she  knew  it  to 
26 


402  MTLLICENT    HALFORD. 

be  out  of  his  power  to  put  into  action  any 
immediate  plans  for  her  return  into  bond- 
age. 

Frederick  was  deeply  surprised  at  the 
meeting ;  but  it  did  not  excite  tlie  emotions 
which  must  have  agitated  him  at  an  earlier 
day.  He  knew  that  he  owed  his  life  to 
the  care  of  these  kind  people,  and  he  was 
not  a  man  to  overlook  such  an  obligation, 
though  rendered  in  part  by  one  of  his  own 
fugitive  slaves.  He  lay  awake,  considering 
the  matter  with  much  attention,  and  be- 
stowing more  than  one  thouglitful  glance 
on  the  impassive   face  before    him. 

'^How  long  have  I  been  lying  here?'' 
was  his  first  question. 

'^  Nearly  two  weeks,  sir,"  said  tlie  girl, 
without  raising  her  eyes  from  her  lap,  where 
they  seemed  attentively  riveted, 

"  So  long !  Ah,  yes,  I  remember.  How 
did  the  battle  turn  ?  When  I  fell,  the  enemy 
were  in  full  retreat." 

''It  went  on  your  side,  sir.  General  Zol- 
licoifer  was  killed,  and  many  other  officers. 
It  was  a  total  rout  for  his  army." 


THE  BATTLE  OF  MILL  SPRINGS.     403 

"  That  is  good  news  ! "  Fre(3erick's  face 
lighted  up  with  a  glow  of  satisfaction.  He 
lay  silent  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  turned 
his  attention  again  to  the  figure  at  his  bed- 
side. 

"  Are  you  not  afraid,  Susan,  that  I  shall 
claim  you  as  my  property,  and  take  you 
back  to  your  old  life  ?  " 

A  peculiar  expression  passed  over  the 
girl's  face,  a  look  which  grew  settled  and 
hard. 

'^I  will  not  go  back  alive,  sir/'  she  said, 
firmly.  "  I  have  made  up  my  mind  that  the 
choice  is  easy  between  slavery  and  death." 

"  I  will  give  you  your  liberty,  Susan," 
said  Mr.  Leeson ;  "  it  shall  be  my  first  act, 
when  my  hand  is  strong  enough  to  hold  a 
pen,  to  make  out  your  papers.  It  will  be 
but  a  just  return  for  the  life  which  you 
have   certainly  preserved  to  me." 

Perhaps  Mr.  Leeson  overrated  his  gift. 
The  girl  had  taken  her  freedom  into  her 
own  hands,  and  it  is  difficult  to  see  how  on 
his   sick-bed  he  could  have   effected  her  re- 


404  MILLICENT    HALFORD. 

capture  ;  but  his  own  view  of  tlie  position 
of  things  was  no  doubt  quite  difl'erent.  Sho 
was  his  property,  liable  at  any  moment  to 
be  rendered  back  by  the  law. 

''  I  thank  you,  sir,"  said  Susan,  her  low 
voice  too  tremulous  to  betray  the  charac- 
ter of  her  emotions.  Ah,  if  this  boon  could 
have  come  earlier,  of  what  inestimable  value 
w^ould  she  once  have  regarded  it  I 


CHAPTEE    XLVIII. 

MYSTERY   OF   SUSAN'S   FLIGHT    SOLVED. 

ri'^HE  long  days  of  convalescence  dragged 
-1-  away  slowly  to  Mr.  Leeson  in  his  nar- 
row quarters.  He  longed  to  be  in  the  field 
with  his  comrades  in  arms,  and  fretted  at 
the  irksome  restraints  which  bound  him  to 
a  sick-pillow.  But  the  long,  lonely  days  of 
illness  were  not  wasted;  they  were  fruitful 
in  many  thoughts  which  had  never  visited 
tlie  strong,  vigorous  days  of  health.  He 
had  stood  too  near  the  confines  of  the  spirit 
land  in  the  last  few  weeks  not  to  feel  its 
refining  and  purifying  influences  breathing 
around  him.  The  mighty  struggle  into 
which  he  had  been  thrust  began  to  take 
broader  bounds ;  he  saw  dimly  a  part  of  its 
purposes,  and    his  own   past   life  of  idleness 

405 


406  MTLUCENT   RALFOT^D. 

and  leisure  began  to  assume  much  of  it3 
true  proportions.  Not  that  his  tlioughts 
struck  at  the  rotten  groundw(jrk  of  slavery. 
These  convictions  of  the  wickedness  of  press- 
ing duwn  human  beings,  with  souls  like  our 
own,  as  beasts  of  burden,  were  yet  in  the 
future  ;  but  the  soil  was  prepared,  and  tho 
work  begun.  One  question  which  had  often 
perplexed  him  recurred  now  to  his  curiosi- 
ty. By  what  means  had  Susan  accomplished 
her  flight  from  Wheatley  Place?  Friendless 
and  alone,  with  her  baby  in  her  arms,  she 
could  never  have  carried  out  her  journey. 
What  secret  friends,  then,  had  aided  her? 
He  put  the  inquiry  in  a  languid  but  ear- 
nest way. 

^'  It  is  a  matter  which  has  been  several 
times  in  my  thoughts,  Susan.  I  am  anxious 
to  know  who  of  my  neighborhood  dared  to 
give  you  assistance  ?  " 

"  No  one,  sir."  The  woman's  head 
dropped.  "  I  walked  on  foot  to  the  station. 
My  baby  sickened  and  died  afterwards  of 
her   exposure    in    tliat   cold,    rainy  night.     I 


MYSTERY   OF    SUSAN's   FLIGHT  SOLVED.    407 

took  tlie  train.  It  was  easy  to  pass  myself 
off  as  a  poor  white  woman  travelling  a  few 
miles  to  see  her  friends." 

Frederick  was  surprised.  The  railway 
had  never  occurred  to  him  at   all. 

"How  did  you  get  the  means ? "  he  asked, 
finding  his  voice.  "  Borrowed  of  your  mis- 
tress, I  suppose  ?  '^ 

"No,"  said  Susan,  raising  her  head,  a  little 
proudly.  "I  had  worked  enough  for  mis- 
tress  to  deserve  a  trifle ;  but  she  always 
kept   her  money  under  lock  and  key." 

"  You  had  some  friend,  then,  in  my  house- 
hold?" observed  Frederick. 

Poor  Susan's  color  changed;  she  had 
quite  forgotten  the  suspicions  whic'i  must 
follow  upon  her  hasty  denial.  "  I  had  but 
a  trifle,''  she  exclaimed,  nervously  ;  "  it  was 
not  enough  to  carry  me  far.  After  I  left 
the  cars,  I  wandered  about  till  I  came  to 
this  lonely  place,  where  I  stopped  to  beg 
some  food.  My  baby  was  then  very  sick. 
The  woman  took  us  in,  and  I  have  remained 
here  ever   since." 


408  MILLICENT   HALFOnn. 

It  was  Millicent  who  liad  aided  licr  in 
her  fliglit.  Frederick  did  not  need  to  push 
further  inquiries.  Well,  Wheat  ley  Place  was 
gone ;  the  mortgage  lay  now  upon  the  bare 
lands.  Susan's  flight  had  dune  him  no 
great  harm. 

"  These  people  you  are  with,"  he  said, 
shortly, — "do  they  know  your  story?" 

"I  have  kept  it  from  them,  sir;  I  dared 
not  trust  tliem  ;  but  I  think  they  have  sus- 
pected  tlie  truth." 

"  You  are  not  aware,"  remarked  Freder- 
ick, ''  that  your  old  home  has  been  burned 
up  in  the  progress  of  this  civil  war,  and 
that  your  mistress  is  now  a  fugitive,  and 
lying  ill  at  Belmont?" 

'^  I  was  not,  sir,  indeed.  Miss  Adele  and 
Miss  Millicent,  are  they  with  her?" 

"  They  are,  and  old  Dinah.  The  remain- 
der of  tlie  servants,  even  Lizzie,  have  fol- 
lowed on  your  track." 

''I  siioAild  like  to  see  the  young  ladies 
again,"  said  Sustin,  thoughtfully, —  "if  I 
could  be  of  any  use.  You  promised  to  make 
out  my  papers,  Mr.  Frederick?" 


MYSTERY   OF    SUSAN's   FLIGHT   SOLVED.    409 

"  I  will  do  SO  to-raorrow/'  lie  answered. 
"  Meanwhile,  I  have  the  impression  that 
there  are  letters  lying  for  me  at  Dalton. 
Can  I  induce  Mr.  Stedman  to  venture  thith- 
er for  them?     I  will  pay  him  liberally." 

"  I  think  so,"  said  Susan,  rising  with 
alacrity  to  step  into  the  adjoining  room. 

"  If  he  dares  not  face  the  risk,"  thought 
she,  as  a  picture  of  the  woodside  country 
swarming  with  stragglers  rose  up  before 
her,  "  I  will  myself  attempt  it.  I  feel  sure 
I  can  get  through." 


CHAPTER     XLIX. 

PARTING   WOEDS. 

ME.  LEESON'S  letters  brought  liim  ill 
news.  He  tore  the  first  open  eagerly, 
recognizing  the  familiar  handwriting,  to  read 
a  few  tremulously-traced  lines  from  Mi  Hi- 
cent,  announcing  that  his  mother  was  grow- 
ing rapidly  worse,  and  requesting  him,  if 
possible,  to  visit  her.  The  note  was  evi- 
dently penned  in  the  hurry  of  a  sick-room, 
and  the  writer  well-nigh  exhausted  by  con- 
stant watching  and  care.  The  second  was 
fiom  Adele,  and  bore  date  a  few  days 
prior  to  Millicent's.  Tlieir  mother  was  very 
feeble,  she  wrote ;  she  seemed  to  be  ra^)- 
iJly  sinking.  V»^ould  he  come  to  see  them? 
She  was  sure  it  was  possible  for  him  to 
get  a  furlough;  she  had  just    told    Miliicent 

410 


PARTING  WORDS.  411 

that  James  ought  to  be  sent  for.  Freder- 
ick turned  to  the  postmarks.  Six  days 
since  Millicent's  letter  had  been  mailed! 
There  was  not  an  hour  to  lose.  He  must 
get  up  from-»his  sick-bed,  if  he  would  see 
his  mother  once  again  in  life. 

His  servant  had  made  his  appearance  the 
day  before,  with  his  horse  and  baggage, 
through  the  instrumentality  of  Mr.  Sted- 
man,  well  satisfied  to  appearances  to  find 
his  master  still  among  the  living.  Excite- 
ment was  beginning  to  supply  the  place 
of  strength.  Frederick  knew  that  he  would 
experience  no  difficulty  in  setting  out.  He 
distributed  liberal  presents  to  his  kind  en- 
tertainers, promised  Susan  an  early  mes- 
sage from  him,  and  set  out  in  the  gray 
winter  noon  on  his  long  ride  to  Belmont. 
A  broad  space  of  country,  in  all  probability 
swarming  with  foes,  was  to  be  traversed. 
He  had  taken  the  precaution  to  don  a  suit 
of  plain  citizen's  clothes,  which  his  valise 
afibrded. 

Once   before  Frederick  had  set  out  on  a 


412  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

similar  dismal  occasion  to  what  he  then 
believed  to  be  his  mother's  death-bed.  The 
wide  contrast  between  these  days,  though 
not  very  far  removed  in  point  of  space, 
pressed  upon  him  as  he  went  on.  Could 
it  be  but  eight  short  months  before  that 
the  railway  train  had  whirled  him  through 
the  peaceful  valleys  of  Virginia,  his  hand 
yet  warm  from  the  clasp  of  his  Cousin  Au- 
gusta's, his  betrothed  wife,  looking  on  to 
years  of  idle  affluence,  with  all  that  heart 
could  ask  poured  into  his  lap?  To-day, 
bound  on  the  same  mournful  errand,  he 
found  himself  as  another  man ;  the  pros- 
pective of  wealth,  the  every-day  circle  of 
home  comforts,  gone,  his  property  ravaged 
and  in  ruins,  his  brother  false,  his  betrothed 
wife  his  no  longer,  the  land  lying  all  be- 
fore him  in  the  smoke  and  waste  of  civil 
war ;  yet  over  all  these  elements  a  lighter 
heart  beat  in  his  bosom  than  he  had  known 
in  the  old  idle  days.  His  reason  leaned 
wonderingly  to  the  truth  that  the  soul  is 
greater    tJian  circumstances ^  and    that   sacri- 


PARTING   WORDS.  413 

fice  and  trial  are  but  the  refining  fires  which 
bring  out  true  manhood.  It  was  a  long, 
sad  journey ;  but  he  bore  up  under  it  with- 
out rest  or  pause,  and  in  the  gray  nightfall 
rode  into  the  little  village,  and  halted  before 
the  well-known  house.  His  servant  sprung 
down  to  assist  him  from  his  horse ;  for  his 
wearied  limbs  refused  to  obey  him,  and,  re- 
jecting his  further  aid,  Frederick  rung  the 
bell,  and  strained  his  eyes  upward  to  catch 
the  light  which  flickered  out  from  the  cham- 
ber above. 

It  was  Augusta  who  faced  him  upon  the 
threshold,  drawing  back  with  a  change  of 
color  and  clouded  brow  as  she  recognized 
the  visitor. 

^'  You  are  just  in  time,  Mr.  Leeson,"  she 
said,  recollecting  herself,  and  giving  him 
her  cold  hand.  "  Your  mother  is  living ; 
she  is  conscious." 

The  words  struck  upon  his  heart.  He 
dropped  her  hand,  which  he  had  taken  with 
a  movement  scarcely  less  cold  than  her 
own,    and  came  in  pale  and  silent. 


414  MILLICENT   HALFOP.D. 

"  You  are  ill,  Mr.  Leeson,"  said  Millicent's 
voice  behind  them ;  her  light  step  had 
tripped  unheard  down  the  staircase.  ''  Your 
mother  is  awake.  I  will  tell  her  you  have 
come.  But  you  must  take  some  refresh- 
ment." His  ghastly  look  struck  her.  She 
hurried  out  to  get  some  wine. 

Frederick  took  the  glass  from  her  hand. 
Augusta  disappeared  into  the  opposite  room. 

"  You  have  come  from  a  sick-bed  ?  "  she 
said,  stopping  to  speak  to  him.  ''  Only  yes- 
terday I  saw  your  name  in  the  list  of  the 
wounded  of  the  battle  of  Mill  Springs." 

''  There  •  is  no  hope  ?  "  asked  Frederick, 
reverting  to  his  mother. 

Millicent  shook  her  head.  "  I  will  go  up 
at  once,"  she  said.  "She  has  been  hourly 
expecting  you.  Thank  God  you  have 
come  ! " 

It  was  a  mournful  scene  which  the  death- 
chamber  presented,  —  a  woman  dying  in 
what  should  have  been  the  prime  and  vigor 
of  her  years. 

A   look   of  consciousness,    of   love,   came 


PARTING   WORDS.  415 

back  in  Mrs.  Leeson's  wan  face  as  her  favor- 
ite son  bent  over  her  pillow.  If  anything 
could  have  called  her  back  to  life,  it  would 
have  been  his  presence. 

Adele  crouched  at  the  side  of  the  bed, 
her  face  buried  in  her  hands.  Augusta  and 
Miss  Stuart  were  present.  Milhcent  made 
a  movement  to  withdraw.  Frederick  signed 
her  to  remain. 

The  dying  woman's  eyes  wandered  over 
the  faces  around  her,  passing  from  Augus- 
ta's to  her  son's.  With  the  approach  of  death, 
her  sight  was  beginning  to  grow  strangely 
luminous.  She  saw  the  telltale  shadows 
which  rested  on  the  young  lady's  face,  and 
read  their  source. 

."  There  is  one  burden  upon  my  peace,'^ 
she  said,  sending  an  earnest  look  toward 
her.  "Augusta,  my  love,  it  would  rejoice 
me  to  see  you  place  your  hand  again  in 
Frederick's..  If  I  know  his  heart,  I  beheve 
he  stands  ready  to  forgive  the  past." 

"  Not  in  that  uniform,"  said  Augusta, 
burying  her  face  in  her  hands,  with  a  quick 


416  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

shudder.  "  My  country's  enemies  can  never 
be  friends  of  mine." 

A  scarcely-perceptible  smile  —  shadowed 
and  sad,  as  befitted  a  death-room  —  crossed 
Mr.  Leeson's  lips.  His  eyes  wandered  to 
a  figure  which  had  withdrawn  itself  to 
a  distant  window.  He  would  not  shock 
his  mother's  prejudice  in  her  dying  hour 
by  telling  her  of  his  second  and  wiser  choice. 
She  would  soon  know  all. 

"  Frederick,"  said  his  mother,  looking  up 
earnestly  at  him,  "  by  the  great  love  I  have 
borne  you,  I  pray  you  to  forgive  your 
brother.  I  cannot  go  in  peace  leaving  you 
enemies." 

"  I  have  forgiven  him,"  said  Frederick, 
bending  lower  over  her  pillow.  "  I  haVe 
myself  just  risen  from  a  sick-bed,  and  have 
been  close  to  the  confines  of  that  world 
where  all  things  show  in  a  clearer  light. 
I  forgave  him  then  freely,  as  I  hope  my- 
self to  be  forgiven,  and  taken  to  heaven, 
should  I  fall  on  one  of  these  bloody  fields." 

His  mother  faintly  pressed  his  hand.     Her 


PARTING  WORDS.  417 

eyes  wandered  out  to  the  distant  window. 
"Millicent,"  she  said,  —  "she  has  been  kind 
to  us.  I  wish  I  could  make  some  provi- 
sion for  her ;  she  is  alone  in  the  world.  Do 
not  forget  it  when  I  am  gone." 

Addle's  sobs  were  distinct^  audible. 
Frederick  laid  his  disengaged  hand  gently 
upon  the  child's  head. 

Mrs.  Leeson's  eyes  closed  softly,  with- 
out an  effort;  her  hand  lay  passive  in  her 
son's ;  sight  and  hearing  were  gone ;  she 
was  sinking  away.  Miss  Stuart  drew  near 
the   bed. 

"  Let  me  take  her,"  she  said,  reaching 
out  her  arms  for  Adele.  "  Come,  my  love ; 
this  is  no  place  for  you.  Let  me  take  you 
to  your  own  chamber.  See,  your  brother 
wishes  it  I " 
27 


CHAPTER     L. 
CONCLUSION. 

THE  funeral  was  over.  All  that  was 
mortal  of  Mrs.  Leeson  had  been  laid 
away  in  an  obscure  grave  in  the  village 
cemetery  of  Belmont ;  the  mourning  group 
had  come  back  to  the  house.  Milliccnt  had 
retired  at  once  to  her  chamber.  Her  heart 
was  very  sorrowful  as  she  sat  in  the  gray 
winter  twilight  trying  to  make  real  the 
great  change  which  had  come  upcm  her 
lot.  The  cares  and  anxieties  of  the  last  long 
months  were  at  an  end.  She  was  now  free, 
alone,  as  she  had  been  on  the  morning  on 
which  she  set  out  from  her  New  England 
home  to  take  up  this  unseen  burden  of  re- 
sponsibihty  and  toil.  Only  one  little  year ! 
But  she  had  lived  years  in  these  brief 
months  in  those  experiences  which  are  pow- 
erful to  mature  the  heart  and  mind. 

418 


CONCLUSION.  419 

"  I  must  go  back,"  she  thought,  forcing 
down  the  sob  from  her  lips.  "  It  is  hard 
to  part  from  them,  —  Adele  and  Frederick ; 
but  they  need  me  no  longer."  She  thought 
of  poor  Susan's  words  after  her  husband's 
sale,  —  "I  wonder  what  God  brought  us 
into  the  world  for ! "  The  cry  was  upon 
her  lips.  Certainly  the  path  which  lay  be- 
hind  and   before  was   rough   and   hard. 

Some  one  knocked  at  the  door.  She 
started  up  to  open  it,  thankful  that  the  gath- 
ered twilight  would  conceal  her  tearful  eyes 
and  flushed  cheeks.  It  was  Mrs.  Ayres, 
the  lady  of  the  house,  who  told  her  that 
Mr.  Leeson  wished  to  speak  with  her  in  the 
parlor.  Doubtless  it  was  upon  the  subject 
of  his  plans ;  his  departure  would  take 
place  at  day -dawn  upon  the  morrow;  he 
had  his  excuse  for  intruding  upon  her  grief. 

'^  I  will  come  down,"  she  said,  and  going 
to  the  mirror,  she  put  back  her  disordered 
hair,    and  bathed  her  flushed   face. 

Mr.  Leeson  was  alone  when  she  went 
down.  Miss  Stuart  and  Augusta  gave  him 
little   of  their   countenance.     They  despised 


420  MILLTCEXT   HALFORD. 

the  renegade  Kentuckian,  as  they  consid- 
ered him,  and  not  even  the  softening  in- 
fluences of  a  mutual  sorrow  could  bring  them 
outside  the  bounds  of  a  civil  courtesy. 

Frederick  led  his  cousin  to  a  seat.  Neither 
of  them  spoke  for  the  first  moment. 

"  I  wish  to  learn  something  of  your  plans, 
Milliccnt,"  Frederick  said,  at  length.  "  I 
leave  liere  to-morrow,  as  you  may  bo  aware. '^ 

"  I  shall  return  to  New  England,"  said 
Millicent,  almost  inaudibly.  "  It  only  remains 
for  me  to  bid  you  and  Adele  good-by.'^ 

Frederick  paused;  he  was  standing  at  the 
back  of  his  cousin's  chair,  his  face  averted 
from  her  observation.  What  he  was  about 
to  say  seemed  difficult  of  utterance. 

"  You  know  something  of  my  history  of 
the  last  year,  Millicent  ?  "  he  began.  "  You 
knew  of  my  engagement  to  my  cousin?" 

"  I  heard  of  it  at  the  time  from  the  ser- 
vants." Millicent  drew  a  short  breath.  Was 
the  afiair  on  the  point  of  renewal  ? 

"  A  heart  which  has  been  rejected  by  one 
woman,"  returned  Frederick,  with  a  little 
bitterness  in  his  tone,  "  may  not  be  regarded 


CONCLUSION.  421 

as  a  fit  offering  by  another.  Millicent,  if 
the  future  holds  anything  to  repay  this  past 
to  me,  it  must  come  from  your  hand." 

She  turned  round  toward  him,  her  face 
glowing  with  agitated  surprise. 

"  Do  I  understand  you,  Mr.  Leeson  ?  Can 
you  forget  the  disparity  between  us  ?  What 
would  your  mother  have  said?" 

"  You  are  my  cousin,  Millicent,  —  my  poor 
mother's  niece.  If  unacknowledged  at  first, 
your  kindness  to  us  all  has  at  last  brought 
home  the  relationship." 

Was  it  a  dream  ?  Millicent  thought  so  as 
she  felt  the  warm  clasp  of  his  hand  upon 
hers,  and  his  hps  on  her  forehead.  The  next 
words  brought  her  back  to  recollection. 

"Under  the  circumstances,  it  is  best  that 
our  marriage  should  take  place  without  de- 
lay.    I  wish  to  leave  Ad^le  in  your  charge." 

So  soon  after  the  burial  I  Millicent's  face 
expressed  disapproval.  Frederick  persisted. 
It  would  be  better  under  the  circumstances, 
and  MiUicent  yielded. 

It  remained  now  to  maxe  the  disclosure 
to    Augusta  and    Miss    Stuart.       Frederick 


4:22  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

did  SO  with  a  certain  secret  satisfaction. 
Both  the  ladies  were  surprised,  Miss  Stu- 
art in  a  degree  less  than  Augusta.  She  had 
seen  soraething  of  the  progress  of  events 
in  the  course  of  Frederick's  former  visits ; 
but  that  his  fancy  for  his  sister's  governess 
would  culminate  in  a  marriage  went  rather 
beyond  her  expectations.  She  ventured  a 
few  words  of  disapproval,  which  were  be- 
comingly met,  and  quietly  answered. 

"  A  few  months  ago,"  she  said,  "  this 
step  would  have  been  far  out  of  your 
thoughts,  and  the  possibility  of  it  as  haught- 
ily disdained  by  you  as  it  can  now  be  by 
us.  This  is  one  of  the  miserable  conse- 
quences of  the  false  stand  you  have  taken. 
Oh,  Frederick,  if  your  father  could  have 
lived  to  see  this  day  I  " 

"  You  would  have  found  him  on  the  side 
of  the  right,"  was  Mr.  Leesou's  answer. 

Miss  Stuart  had  fulfilled  her  duty ;  she 
turned  sadly  away. 

"  I  have  a  secret  to  tell  you,  Frederick," 
whispered  Millicent,  as  she  stole  down  to 
his  side  an   hour  later,  while  he   sat   alone 


CONCLUSION.  423 

in  the  parlor,  his  mind  busied  with  the 
many  thoughts  of  the  future  which  might 
well  press  upon  it ;  '^  it  should  have  been 
told  you  this  evening;  but  I  forgot  to 
speak;"  and  she  went  over  hurriedly  with 
the  particulars  of  Susan's  flight,  bringing 
out  her  own  co-operation. 

Frederick  smiled,  —  a  smile  which  lin- 
gered pleasantly  in  the  depths  of  his  sober 
eyes  and  around  his  grave  mouth,  as  he 
drew  her  agitated  and  blushing  face  gently 
round  toward  him.  "  I  know  all,"  he  said, 
"  and  have  only  to  thank  you  for  the  pleas- 
ure you  have  given  me  in  your  ingenuous 
simplicity.  But,  my  dear  child,"  he  added, 
with  a  soberer  brow,  "  were  you  not  aware 
that  you  were  laying  yourself  open  to  heavy 
penalties  in  aiding  the  flight  of  a  slave  ?  " 

"  I  did  not  pause  to  think,"  said  Milli- 
cent.  "  I  saw  only  her  distress,  and  the 
terrible  fate   she  was  trying  to  escape." 

"  A  woman's  answer,"  said  Frederick,  im- 
pressing a  lover's  kiss  on  the  pure  face. 
And  in  his  heart  he  thought  a  woman's 
simple  wisdom  is  sometimes  the  best. 


424  MILLICENT   HALFORD. 

We  have  little  more  to  add.  We  can 
trace  Frederick  Leeson's  path  (under  an- 
other name)  through  the  three  years  which 
have  passed  since  this  record  was  closed; 
but  over  the  fate  of  the  other  personages 
of  our  history  a  veil  rests  to  us  as  well  as 
to  the  reader.  Whether  James  Leeson  saw 
his  error,  and,  like  many  of  the  misguided 
sons  of  his  gallant  State,  came  back  to  the 
old  flag,  and  married  Miss  Bennet,  or 
whether  Augusta  tardily  accepted  the  ful- 
filment of  his  rashly-uttered  vows,  or  wheth- 
er, saddest  of  all  suppositions,  he  fell  on 
one  of  those  blood-red  fields,  where  half 
of  the  flower  and  chivalry  of  the  South 
went  down  in  their  mad  charges,  are  mat- 
ters only  for  conjecture.  Out  of  the  storms 
of  conflict  and  trial  God  brings  peace,  and  so 
we  need  not  doubt  that  in  his  own  time 
and  way  he  will  make  each  individual  expe- 
rience of  these  bitter  times  fiiiitfuJ  of  bless- 
ing, as  well  as  raise  our  beloved  country 
through  these  bloody  scenes  of  purification 
to  a  higher  estate  than  she  has  yet    known. 


RARE  BOOK 
COLLECTION 


THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY  OF 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

AT 

CHAPEL  HILL 

Wilmer 
903 


